Middlesbrough FC v Huddersfield Town: Leo Percovich wants to complete the set

The Uruguayan's four matches in charge have yielded a 50 per cent win ratio. Considering what went on before, it represents progress at least.

The club stalwart savoured the highs of victory over Birmingham City at the Riverside in his first match at the helm.

After rather more difficult afternoons against Millwall and Blackburn Rovers, the 54-year-old presided over Boro's first away win since April 2 on Wednesday, a handsome 4-1 win at Wigan Athletic as the Teessiders made light of their travelsickness.

Following a first win and a maiden success for Boro on their travels this term, three points against Huddersfield Town - and a first weekend success for Percovich, would round things off nicely with Michael Carrick's appointment set to be confirmed shortly.

Percovich said: “If you look back and think, when we started to do this caretaker (job), after 11 games, we had only got two wins.

“Now, in four games, we have already got two more wins.

“So, it is something that is getting good.

"It is getting better, and we have had the time to keep working, to allow the club to settle and find the right thing to be doing.”

Percovich will have to make at least one change for Saturday afternoon encounter, with Matt Crooks, who started his career at Town. suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Wigan.

Defender Paddy McNair is back in the fray, after serving his own one-match ban.

Boro face a Terriers side who have picked up just one point on the road from six matches thus far, with their record being the worst in the Championship in 2022-23, statistically.

Percovich has been around the second-tier long enough to be wary and given events earlier this year against Town, it is with good reason.

He commented: “In the Championship there is no difference between bottom and first place. We went to Coventry City when they were bottom and we got beat and we looked terrible.

"So it’s very important we face it like the big game it is for us and give Huddersfield the respect they deserve. It’s only a couple of months ago they last came here and beat us 2-0.

"So we need to stand up now and show that we are strong and we are ready to move up that table."