Monk wants Traore to fulfil his potential
ALL the talk may be about a potentially definitive moment in Steve Bruce’s tenure at Villa Park this evening, but it could also provide one for his Middlesbrough counterpart Garry Monk too.
Ex-Hull City chief Bruce is under growing pressure after an underwhelming start to the season, with fans booing his side in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Brentford.
That has prompted Villa owner Tony Xia to call for unity after recently stating that ‘only results matter’ in a September of fundamental importance to Bruce, who could welcome back Jonathan Kodjia as he seeks a badly-needed lift this tonight.
Boro boss Monk, meanwhile, will be seeking evidence that Saturday’s polished 3-0 win at Bolton – which saw Adama Traore torment the hosts with an outstanding display – was not a one-off, more specifically in terms of the feats of the former Villa winger.
Traore has struggled badly for consistency at Boro, but his weekend display showed he could be a significant and – potentially decisive – weapon this season if he maintains those high standards.
Monk said: “I think your job as a manager, when you are working with players, is to try to help them realise what they can be, and what they need to do to reach their full potential.
“All of them are probably not at their full potential. But if you can try to help them see what they could be, then put that plan in place for them, I think that is what you have to do.” MENTION the words ‘Oxford’ and ‘United’ to anyone who follows Bradford City on the road and chances are you will elicit at least a shiver.
The Bantams made three trips to the Kassam Stadium last season, including two in the depths of winter, and returned empty-handed each time.
A 1-0 defeat in the league was followed by the cruel postponement of January’s Checkatrade Trophy tie just a few minutes before kick-off, something that meant Stuart McCall’s men had to make the same journey a week later only to be knocked out 2-1.
The sense of annoyance and frustration was tangible but one man at Valley Parade last season spared those two latter visits was Alex Gilliead, his previous appearance in the Trophy for Luton Town earlier in the season meant the wideman was ineligible. But, like those who did endure the two journeys, the Newcastle loanee is determined to make his mark tonight.
“Those games are gone now,” he said. “We know this will be tough but we have enough in our team to get good results, as we have shown already.”
Gilliead managed just ten appearances for City last season but this time around he has already made a big impression.
Asked if supporters were finally seeing the wideman at his best, he said: “I can’t just say, ‘I will do this and do that’. I need to be doing that out on the pitch.” PAUL WARNE is pledging to leave ‘no stone unturned’ in Rotherham United’s quest to boost their striking numbers.
In-form Millers forward Kieffer Moore may be the joint frontrunner in the current League One goalscoring charts with six goals so far in 2017-18, but Warne is acutely aware of the need for an insurance policy, with targetman Jamie Proctor out until April with a serious knee injury.
Warne said: “I am watching someone. We are always looking. If something happened to Kieffer, we would have to get someone in.
“Would I sign someone now and bring them in? Possibly not. It’s a case of needing to know that, if something happens, there is someone I could go and grab.
“We are looking everywhere.