LEEDS United’s managing director insists the West Yorkshire club will not be obsessing about the return of Garry Monk when Middlesbrough visit Elland Road this weekend.

Sunday’s televised encounter will see Monk make his first return to Leeds’ home ground since he left the club a couple of days before moving to Middlesbrough in the summer.

Monk spent one season at Elland Road, but left when control of transfer matters was taken out of his hands, and he is likely to receive a hostile reception from the home supporters in two days’ time.

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani was unhappy with Monk’s decision to walk out in the summer, with the current Boro boss having guided his former employers to their highest league finish since 2011.

However, five months down the line, managing director Angus Kinnear insists Leeds have moved on and will not be focusing on Monk’s return as they prepare for a game that could prove crucial to the future of the club’s current boss, Thomas Christiansen.

“It’s an important game because three points are at stake,” said Kinnear. “It’s important as we need to turn around the run of form we’ve been on, and it’s an important game as we’re testing ourselves against one of the most-fancied and strongest sides in the division. But with regards to Garry Monk returning, it’s not something we’ll focus on.

“Garry made it fairly clear that he didn’t want to be part of Leeds United and we wished him well and all the best for the future.

“But at that point we stopped thinking about him. We want to think about people who want to be at Leeds United, and there’s plenty of people who want to be here.”

Middlesbrough have not won at Leeds since 2011, but the Teessiders will head into Sunday’s game in a buoyant mood after winning their three previous games before the international break.

They displayed their battling qualities to grind out a 1-0 derby win over Sunderland two weeks ago, and Stewart Downing feels a similar level of spirit and commitment will enable them to triumph again at the weekend.

“We beat Sunderland even though I didn’t think we were in full flow,” said Downing. “It was a bit scrappy at times, it was 1-0 early on and a bit cat and mouse.

“We showed the other side of the team there, where we have players who dig in and not just have flair players. Even if you look at the front three, Britt (Assombalonga) didn’t get a goal, but he worked his socks off up there for us.

“You need that in this league. You need a team and not individuals. I said that last season – you can’t carry people and that’s the important thing. You have to fight for each other and keep your place.”