AITOR KARANKA refuses to be sentimental about tomorrow’s match against Leeds United, even if it does hold special significance for Middlesbrough’s head coach.

Karanka began his managerial career with a 2-1 defeat to Leeds at Elland Road in November 2013, and his Boro side have failed to beat the Whites in every meeting since.

Leeds represents the nearest thing Middlesbrough have to a derby, but for Karanka, it is just another game, and the Spaniard does not wish to get carried away in the hype surrounding the game.

“It will always be a special game for me as it was the first one,” said Karanka of the clash. “I will always remember that game and now we are much better than we were at that moment.

“We're improving and that's the main thing. It's football and you knew me 22 months ago, and I'm preparing the games in the same way.

“For me, it's not a problem if the last game Middlesbrough won a game was 20 years or 50 years ago, the past is the past. I have never beaten Leeds but one day I hope I'll get the first one, but if we don't win on Sunday it's three points lost and we have another chance (for three points) against Reading. It's just another game.”

Brian McDermott led Leeds to that victory over Boro nearly two years ago, and there has been something of a managerial merry-go-round at Elland Road, with Dave Hockaday, Neil Redfearn (twice) and Darko Milanic all holding the reins at some point, while Karanka has remained a constant.

Such stability is down to chairman Steve Gibson, believes Karanka.

“The best proof is how we were 22 months ago and how we are now,” he said. “At the beginning it was difficult, we won one game in the first five and the chairman transmitted to me his confidence. Now we're fighting at the top of the table and not just this season, as last season we were fighting to get promotion.

“This season we are fighting again and that's the best example to keep working together, to trust your people. I said 22 months ago when I felt (Steve Gibson's) support and we are the best example.”

Boro are in the best possible condition to beat Leeds, having won their previous six matches. A seventh consecutive victory would equal a record set in 1995 when Bryan Robson managed the Teessiders in their first season at the Riverside Stadium.

And, once again, Karanka finds himself with a selection headache with only Dani Ayala and Cristhian Stuani his immediate injury concerns. The former Real Madrid assistant wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

“It will be very difficult,” said Karanka on choosing his team for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off. “After the Nottingham Forest game, I had the first XI more or less clear, but I made six or seven changes on Tuesday and now I have 18 players to choose from.

“It's difficult but I'm pleased to have this problem - I prefer to go to my desk on Saturday with 18 players or 20 players because we've beaten Forest and Wolves, than to have just six as we'd lost against those teams. For me, it's perfect.

However, one player not involved tomorrow will be Adam Reach, who Karanka admitted would be leaving the club on loan in a bid for first-team football.

Karanka feels that a short spell away from the club would be the best thing for the former Darlington loanee.

“We are working because Reachy is a very good kid, a good player,” said the Boro head coach. “At the end of the transfer market we didn't know what was going to happen with Albert (Adomah) and we brought in Carlos de Pena, and kept Albert.

“That was the best thing for all of us and now we have two more players than perhaps we would have had. I was speaking with Reachy, and he's the kind of player who needs to play - he deserves to play. I can't guarantee him to play here as we have another two players now and Reachy is young.

“He's got a bright future so we're working to send him to the right place. It was more or less the same (as Carayol's situation) but both are different players. Muzzy got injured two seasons ago and is more experienced and mature, but Reach is more for the future as he's younger. But it was the same, more or less.

“I like to explain to the players my reasons, I'm not the kind of manager to ask a member of my staff to explain my decision. It was our decision and I was speaking with Reachy and he understood perfectly. He knows he can be with us in one month, or maybe next season, as I trust him and I know he'll have a bright future.”

While there is a question mark over Stuani’s fitness, de Pena is in contention having made his long-awaited Boro debut in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Wolves, and Karanka was impressed with his new signing.

He said: “I think it was important for him as it's always difficult playing the first game. Especially with our performance in the first half not being really good, but in the second half he showed he's young but mature, he's got quality and is growing up.

“He's one of the changing room now, he's been here for three weeks and he'll improve - and with his improvement, the team will improve.”