LEO PERCOVICH takes charge of his fifth game in caretaker charge of Middlesbrough tomorrow afternoon, and will be looking to build on Wednesday’s morale-boosting 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic.

What are the key issues the interim head coach will have been pondering ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Huddersfield Town at the Riverside?


STICK WITH A BACK FOUR?

Percovich finally bit the bullet at the DW Stadium on Wednesday, abandoning the five-man defensive shape that tended to be the default setting for both Chris Wilder and Neil Warnock, and instead opting to go with a flat back four.

The ploy paid immediate dividends, with Boro looking much better organised defensively than they had in the first half of their previous game against Blackburn in particular, and also benefitting from having an extra body in the Wigan half.

Tommy Smith’s presence at right-back helped steady the ship, with the 30-year-old not really interested in pushing forward and therefore able to tuck inside to help out his centre-halves when required.

Paddy McNair’s return from suspension potentially complicates things, with the Northern Irishman having been unavailable for the Wigan game as he served a one-match ban.

McNair’s form this season has not been great though, and if Percovich does decide to stick with a back four, he might well also decide to keep Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan together at centre-half.


JONES UP THE PITCH

Another benefit of playing with a flat back four is that it allowed Percovich to station Isaiah Jones much higher up the pitch – it is no coincidence that the 23-year-old had one of his most effective games of the season as a result, scoring the goal that pulled Boro level on the brink of half-time and causing a series of problems to the Wigan defence throughout the second half.

While Jones evolved into an excellent wing-back under first Warnock then Wilder, he started his career as a winger and is more than comfortable making attacking runs into the final third.

Opponents were starting to work out how to shackle Jones when he was playing at wing-back, but he is able to ask more threatening questions when he lines up as a winger, with instructions to threaten the opposition’s 18-yard box.

There might well be times this season when Jones is needed back at full-back – for now, though, it seems sensible to keep him away from the backline and give him the freedom to attack.


HACKNEY IN THE SIDE

Hayden Hackney’s first senior goal was clearly the highlight of his performance at the DW Stadium, but while the long-range strike will live long in the memory, it was far from the only element of the 20-year-old performance that caught the eye.

The Northern Echo:

Since breaking into the starting side under Percovich, the academy graduate has provided the kind of energy and thrusting midfield movement that was lacking in much of Boro’s play earlier this season.

While Jonny Howson, Matt Crooks and Riley McGree might all be decent central midfielders, there is not much drive or athleticism to their play. Hackney’s presence in the side alters the midfield mix, and enables Boro to get the ball upfield quicker and force opposition defences onto the back foot.

The youngster is developing all the time, and Percovich, no doubt under guidance from academy boss Craig Liddle, deserves credit for giving him a chance. While his continued presence in the starting line-up means more experienced midfielders have to miss out, he more than merits his current place in the team.


WHO STARTS IN ATTACK?

Rodrigo Muniz was Boro’s standout summer signing, with the Teessiders finally landing the Brazilian on loan from Fulham 12 months after an earlier attempt to secure his services ended in failure.

However, with a tally of two goals from ten appearances, it is safe to say he has not really lived up to his billing so far this term, and Percovich was right to drop him at Wigan.

In Muniz's absence, Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom claimed a goal apiece, dovetailing nicely as Boro best produced their best attacking display of the season.

Watmore’s relentless running was a big factor in Wednesday’s win, and he is likely to be a key performer again as Boro look to break down a Huddersfield side whose initial priority will be to try to keep things tight.