RETURNING home to Newport might have added to the romance for Tony Pulis, but he is extremely thankful the intriguing fourth round FA Cup tie is the other way around.

Instead of heading to Rodney Parade, where Premier League side Leicester City were dumped out a few weeks ago, the Middlesbrough boss is pleased that there will be a band of his friends and family travelling up to the North-East to experience the Riverside Stadium.

And not only will those he has a relationship with see a familiar face in the home dug-out by the River Tees, everyone from Newport will have a sense of home when they pass the Transporter Bridge, as Teesside and the one in South East Wales are two of only three like it in the country.

Both areas also have industrial heritages, so Newport-born Pulis will be feeling sentimental before and after the game, even if he is just relieved that the tie will be played up here rather than down there where he was born and bred.

“It was a wonderful area to be brought up,” said Pulis. “The two schools, St Michael’s was the primary, and then we had St Joseph’s the juniors in that area too, so I didn’t have to catch a bus until I was 14 or 15.

“It was a proper community. Everything that we needed was there. We didn’t have what people had today, we didn’t have anything but we had everything.

“I see similarities in the people in both towns. We go out on a Thursday night out here with staff, to different areas, and it’s always come over as a very warm and friendly people. It’s the same in South Wales.

“But I am delighted we are in Middlesbrough for this game and that’s no disrespect to go to Newport. The home draw was important for us. The most important thing is to turn up with the right attitude, know it is a tough physical game.

“Newport will come here and it is a big game for them, they will bring a lot of supporters up and we have to be ready.”

Both 61-year-old Pulis and 38-year-old Michael Flynn were brought up in the Pill area of Newport and the winner of today’s game will be handed a canvas of their respective Transporter Bridge. Pulis smile: “I have got plenty room on the walls to stick that up.”

And he knows that there will be plenty of people wanting to see him, including one of his managers in his earlier years – probably asking for money.

He said: “We have family coming up, from both sides, my Debbie (wife) and mine, lots of friends coming up. It’s been busy.

“Debbie’s uncle was in charge of where I used to play on a Saturday, it was £1 subscription for your kit then, I was only 15 playing with adults back then. I didn’t have a pound to give him.

“He opened the book and every time I see him see him now he says ‘by the way you owe me another tenner’. He is coming up. He is well into his 80s. He’s staying overnight, flying up from Bristol, and it’s great.”

Regardless of the thousands who travel up from Newport, the former County player – who had a couple of years in orange in 1980s – has a team to send out to seal a place in the fifth round against League Two opposition. That might not be as easy at it seems.

Pulis said: “It’s wait and see who comes in and who hasn’t got a touch of flu. Four or five players have struggled with flu this week. There’s been three we haven’t seen.

“We will have a roll call and take it from there. We will see what players we have available. Forget the squad and let’s see who can come in and be ready to go.

“The flu bug has been flying around, we are not the only team, that has to deal with it.”

In terms of selections, new signing John Obi Mikel is described as “short of fitness” if he has received international clearance in time to play. He has trained the last two days.

Stewart Downing is also in contention to start because the clause in his contract that triggers an extension if he makes one more start does not include cup games.

Pulis does hope to be able to make changes, like he has previously in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. As well as beating Peterborough 5-0 in the third round, Middlesbrough managed to reach the last eight of the League Cup but were defeated by Burton of League One to prevent a semi-final date with Manchester City.

And Pulis insists that Middlesbrough should be too concerned by that defeat to Burton ahead of facing Newport, who also caused problems for Leeds and Tottenham last year in the FA Cup.

He said: “The Burton result was disappointing but if we spin it the other way, we are the only club in the Championship to get to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. There was no other club in the Championship to go that far. Wherever you go, whatever club, supporters are not happy for this or that, I have respect for them, it’s their club for all of their lives.”