NATIONALLY Garry Monk is known regarded as one of the English game’s most promising, homegrown managers. The bigger picture is how he has not had it plain-sailing, has had to learn quickly that time is never on your side in football management.

Monk still held his playing rights and had not even turned 35 when he was managing Swansea City in the Premier League. After guiding them to Premier League safety in his first few months in charge, he followed that by leading them to an eighth place finish. Such is life at the top these days, he was sacked less than half way through the following campaign.

The second anniversary of his departure from the club where he had spent a decade playing and managing in all four divisions has just gone, and that experience could easily have altered the direction he was looking to take his career in.

Instead he took some time out, maintained his hunger to succeed and took on the challenge of Leeds United the following summer. A testing season at Elland Road, including a power struggle at the top as well as the twists and turns of an unexpected promotion race, also hardened his resolve.

This is without considering a playing career that saw the Bedford-born defender take in spells with Torquay, Southampton, Stockport, Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley before settling down and making a real impression at Swansea.

So when the criticism increased as Middlesbrough manager during the last few weeks, his stance was to stay strong and remain confident in his methods. There has been a willingness to change his team selections, but the tactics have tended to stay the same.

And, when the pressure was really starting to grow after three defeats from four matches, he took great satisfaction from last weekend’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. There is no danger of him getting carried away after that return to winning ways ahead of today’s trip to Millwall, but his resilience is something he hopes will stand him good stead in the months and years ahead.

“I was a centre-back, it’s my character!” said Monk, smiling in the media suite at Rockliffe Park earlier this week. “Where does it come from? From my youth, as a kid, my upbringing, parents, my family ...

“Football was also a lot different when I started. Coaches were tougher and you had to deal with rejection earlier. The journey you have been on makes you as a person, everyone is different. I guess the journey I have been on, I have had to show resilience, determination.

“The whole point is that you have to show belief and push it. If you fail then it can’t be through a lack of belief or trying. I am not oblivious to criticism, but you have to learn and go through things yourself to learn.

“I am still learning and I probably will always be until I have all grey hair or it’s fallen out. I know what I want and how to get there, to help these players get there, you have to stick to it and get through it.”

Heading to The Den today, Middlesbrough are still miles away from where they would like to be. There is a five-point gap to make up to the play-offs, a 12-point deficit to second place and leaders Wolves are a staggering 16 ahead of them after 21 matches.

Yet what matters to Monk, and chairman Steve Gibson given how he stood by him after the recent slump, is where Middlesbrough will be when it matters. Having seen real signs of progress against Ipswich, the aim is for that to be repeated and built on.

Monk said: “I have said all along it is not about me. You live your whole life in the football trade and you need to deal with people saying they are not happy about this or that. It’s staying balanced when things are good and bad.

“My focus is on football, you know what works. I have been in football long enough, doing it long enough to know what does and doesn’t work. It’s trusting what you do and knowing that when it is done right then what it can give you in terms of results. It is having pure belief and trust in the players. They will come through it. It’s that balance.

“I have total belief in this group, confidence in them. If they go through difficult moments then you help them as a manager. If it takes something sterner, harder, you go like that.

“Noone knows that group better than myself. I work with them every day, people will always have an opinion on who should play but that’s football. I see them every day, work with them every day and know what I expect to see on a daily basis. You have to take it. You have to fight hard. It is trust in what you believe and putting them out on the pitch.”

Monk felt the time was right to recall Patrick Bamford last weekend and the decision worked. He was part of an effective display which secured three points. Bamford is likely to stay in the side when Millwall will be looking to build on their five wins this season (all of which have been at home).

Monk said: “Credit for the season they have had since coming up. They are a very physical team, organised and direct. We will have to be strong with that. The key will be us imposing ourselves on the game. We did that against Ipswich and we have to do that again.

“Like all teams, especially promoted teams, it is the home games where they look to get the bulk of their points. It can be a hostile environment there sometimes but if we show our same levels of hunger then I am confident we can build momentum into the Christmas period.”