MONK‘S MEN SO FULL OF HUNGER FOR PREM PUSH

GARRY MONK is convinced his Middlesbrough squad have regained their hunger.

The Teessiders beat Ipswich last week, and are back on the tail of the promotion chasers following a couple of defeats.

Monk (above) is now demanding extra focus and says he can cope with criticism Boro’s up and down form brings.

He said: “The frustration from all of us is we have not taken the points in games where we should have done, where the opposition hasn’t really earned it. You can live with it if a decision is out of your hands or if a team was better than us, but we have been guilty of mistakes.

“Last Saturday was a step in the right direction, I felt we had a really good hunger about us.

“I think we made it look comfortable against a team like Ipswich, second-highest scorers in the league, so it is good for us moving forward.”

Monk added: “It’s trusting what you do and knowing that when it is done right what it can give you in terms of results. It is just about having pure belief and trust in the players.”

Lions veteran Steve Morison was handed a one-year contract extension for playing 20 Championship matches this week.

The 34-year-old is yet to score this season and said: “Contrary to what people might say, I think I’ve earned it. I’ve been key to the games we’ve won this season and the results we have got.

“Goals will be my aim for the second part of the season.

‘‘I should have scored some goals and I haven’t.”