AT the start of his Middlesbrough head coaching tenure, Kim Hellberg was afforded a fair old new manager 'bounce.'

His concern in the present is ensuring that opposite number Eric Ramsay does not get off to a good start at The Hawthorns tonight.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea coach steps out for the first time as West Brom chief on the back of two years at Minnesota United, where he lead them to their best ever season in the MLS.

Hellberg himself enjoyed a dream start to life at Boro late last year by virtue of four successive wins.

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg during the Sky Bet Championship match at Pride Park Stadium, Derby. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.

placeholder image — Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg during the Sky Bet Championship match at Pride Park Stadium, Derby. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.

In that spell, opponents plainly struggled to fathom out the Swede's 4-2-2-2 formation.

The Boro boss is conscious that Ramsay might also have something new up his sleeve from a tactical perspective too.

Hellberg, whose side can move within three points of leaders Coventry City with victory, said: "It's very difficult to understand what they're going to do because I looked at West Brom playing in a certain way for a long time - a certain structure, quite defensive and good on the ball.

"I think they’ve performed quite well, even if they haven't got the results especially.

Middlesbrough midfielder Leo Castledine, pictured in his loan spell at Huddersfield Town earlier this season. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

"Now, I look at how he (Ramsay) played in Minnesota and it was more of a counter back five.

"It’s difficult to know how much he will do and how much he wants to change, or if he had played that structure in Minnesota because that was the players he had.

"It's a very tricky situation as always when someone comes in and they only have three days.

"But it's also tricky for them to get everything (information) through.

"We have to be aware that they could do different things. But that's been almost the theme for the whole (time) since I arrived.

"I think every team has changed a lot from the last game to when we played against them.

"I haven't seen Hull play a low back five in any of the 25 games they played. Blackburn went from a little bit lower to man-to-man.

"I think everyone is trying to find out different structures to stop our offensive play because that's what's been good from us."

Albion may be surprisingly languishing in 18th place, but such is the tight nature of the Championship that Hellberg is conscious they won't be throwing in the towel regarding the top six just yet.

He said: “There's not so many points - I think they are only ten from the play-offs - so I think they still have a good chance.

"It's a very even league with a lot of small distance between being 16th and being sixth in the table. When I watch them, I see they've done a lot of good stuff."

Matt Targett is available for Boro tonight. His parent club Newcastle United extended the deadline for when they can recall him this month after discussions with the Teessiders earlier this week.

New signings Leo Castledine - named as League One's player of the month for December following a fine month at Huddersfield Town - and Finley Munroe are both among the Boro party who have travelled to the Midlands and could make their debuts.