BY now the vast majority of Middlesbrough’s fans are familiar with the identity of Ben Gibson’s uncle. What they might not know is how Steve Gibson, the club’s well-loved chairman, once sacked the talented defender - and he hopes to avoid a repeat.

That was the case in the fantasy world of Football Manager a few years ago when the closest Ben had got to the Premier League was competing in it as an imaginary Middlesbrough manager on the family PC.

The 22-year-old, from Nunthorpe, has always been a huge fan of his hometown club and it hurt him in 2009 when his first year as a full-time pro at the Riverside coincided with the drop in to the Championship.

By that time, he had already been shown the door by the Boro chief and, ahead of tonight’s potentially decisive trip to Norwich City in the race to the Premier League, the player does not want to be shown the door for real if Middlesbrough do return to the upper echelons of English football next season.

“I was always Middlesbrough boss on Football Manager – and I was pretty good,” said Ben. “My uncle always gave me loads to spend! The best I got was the group stage of the Champions League.

“We got knocked out without making the second round and he gave me the bullet! But in the real world I leave all that business to him. If we do go up then I’ll just be hoping that he keeps hold of me!

“We had huge players at that time – (Alen) Boksic, Juninho, Emerson, (Fabrizio) Ravanelli, (Gaizka) Mendieta. It was great for me – I always pretended to be Mendieta in the playground.

“It was so exciting. Even though Steve was my uncle I used to get excited when I read in the papers about us signing all these top players. We’re looking to bring those times back.”

Ben’s excitement is mirrored across Teesside. He might be a key component of the Middlesbrough team pressing for promotion, but his Riverside roots mean he would be sat in the stands with his friends even if he was not pulling on the No 6 shirt for Aitor Karanka.

“I was only 16 and I didn’t really know as much about the Championship because we’d always been a Premier League club when we went down,” said Ben. “I didn’t know how hard it would be to get out of it. I’ve been in it two years now and it’s tough. I was listening on the radio driving to a football tournament and we were heartbroken that year.

“My mates are stressing out more than me. It’s better for me because it’s in my hands. After every game I come in and it’s like heart-attack material in our Whatsapp group – it’s incredible. But they believe in us and that’s massive. They feel we deserve that promotion.”

Promotion can take a step nearer tonight if Middlesbrough claim three points at second-placed Norwich. Such an outcome would see Karanka’s side reclaim top spot with just two more matches remaining. Ben, who recalls Carling Cup glory in 2004 and a UEFA Cup final two years later, is well aware of its significance.

“I would say this is the biggest game in the club’s history. The way the Premier League is and the gap financially makes this our biggest game ever,” said Ben, knowing it will be followed by a trip to Fulham and a home date with Brighton.

“If we get back in the Premier League it’s different to the last time. It has more of an impact, financially, than what the UEFA Cup or Carling Cup final did. It’s £100m or something for going up, that is irreplaceable. It will have a bigger effect on the club and the town than winning the cup. In terms of the actually importance, I would say this is bigger.”

As Ben chatted away at Rockliffe Park before flying down to Norwich with the rest of the squad yesterday afternoon, he was pointed in the direction of the photograph on the wall opposite him. It shows Steve Gibson being covered in champagne on the pitch at the Millennium Stadium after Boro ended their 128-year wait for silverware.

“We’ll be chucking him up in the air as well if we go up,” said Ben. “But I think a lot of people would because everyone knows what he has done for this club. He’s been amazing. His loyalty and what he has put in deserves reward.”