Monk set to stick to Karanka’s solo

BORO can expect to see Aitor Karanka’s one-striker system continue under Garry Monk. The club’s new boss pursued this system at Leeds United where it proved extremely successful. It worked because he had a top man up front in the New Zealand-born Chris Wood, who scored 30 goals in all competitions last season. It’s unlikely that Monk will inherit any members of the current Boro squad capable of scoring so prolifically, which suggests that a goalscoring striker will be at the top of his list of summer targets.

Naturally Monk would probably love to return to Leeds for the 25-year-old Wood, but it’s hard to imagine Leeds being in any mood to sell their best player to their former manager.

Certainly this would do little to appease the Leeds fans ahead of the new campaign.

Wood is a perfect example of the players that Monk has made better since he took over at Leeds 12 months ago.

In addition to taking a hands-on policy in training and coaching the team, Monk has left little doubt that he is a top judge of a player.

This suggests that he will bring in the right people over the next few weeks to make Boro stronger as a unit.

Monk will operate a more expansive game plan that Karanka, although he will still place plenty of emphasis on the defensive side of things.

This will suit the current Boro squad because they are top heavy with competent defensive players. It will also suit Monk because he may not need to go looking for new defenders.