Middlesbrough’s Monk targets promotion ahead of new season

New Boro manager Garry Monk insists his side will be fighting to get back into the Premier League from the very first day of the season.

The 38-year-old succeeded Steve Agnew at the Riverside following Boro’s relegation to the Championship last month.

And Monk, who narrowly missed out on a play-off place with former side Leeds last season, has cited his players’ aspirations as a key factor with the club looking to secure an imminent return to the top flight.

Monk said: “We’re going to be fighting for that (promotion) from day one – that’s going to be the ambition and the objective. But there are a lot of things we have to do to achieve that.

“If things go well, we’ll be back to the Premier League. But there’s a big process to go through if you’re going to achieve that. It has to be down to the ambition of everyone.”

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Monk also indicated that he has intentions of securing a number of summer signings ahead of the new campaign.

He said: “Of course it needs freshening up a bit. And I think the club are very clear on what they want to do and how they are going to go about it.

“It aligns with how I think. Like any season at any club, there will be comings and goings. It’s about the right goings and the right comings, that’s how it is.

“I’ve got a really good feeling about the clarity and how we’re going to go about that. It aligns with how I work and I’m looking forward to that challenge as well.”

“I feel we have a great opportunity, and that was another reason for coming here. The clarity that I’ve had from the club around how we’re going to go about doing that, and how we’re going to go together and work through all of that, has been very good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Middlesbrough had to wait seven years before regaining their top-flight status the last time they were relegated to the Championship, eventually securing automatic promotion under Aitor Karanka two seasons ago.