TONY Mowbray admits a return to Middlesbrough wouldn't have been his ideal choice for his first game in charge of West Brom - but he does have the benefit of having watched Boro at the Riverside on several occasions of late.

Mowbray, a boyhood Boro fan who went on to captain and manage the club, has been a regular Riverside spectator in recent weeks after recovering from bowel cancer.

Little did he know at the time that those Riverside visits would act as scouting missions ahead of the first game of his second stint in charge of the Baggies.

Mowbray's appointment was confirmed on Friday but he watched the weekend draw with Stoke City from the stands, before officially starting work and taking training for the first time on Sunday.

That has given him very little time to prepare for tonight's game at Boro, which will no doubt be an emotional occasion for the proud Teessider.

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"It's very difficult after the first proper training session with them to know their personalities, and it's real focus for me to make sure before I say something I remember everybody's first name," said Mowbray.

"It's difficult, but I'm really enjoying it, and looking forward to the challenge of the games.

"Personally, if I was going to pick the first game for me, I'm not sure it'd be Middlesbrough away, but it is and we will get on with it."

Boro have only won six of their 14 home games so far this season, and one of their last four.

Mowbray said: "What I would say about Michael's (Carrick) team is that I think they're as well-coached as I've seen, and yet they've had some difficult recent results.

"I think the last four home games I've watched them, they've drawn three and lost one, I think. So we go in there at a time where we have to try and impact our style on them, really, if we can, because I think they're a very well-coached team and it's a tough game for us, but one we're looking forward to and getting going."

Mowbray was unveiled as West Brom boss on Monday when he spoke to the media for the first time and opened up on his battle with cancer.

He said: "As a person, it's probably given me strength. It's given me an ability to look at myself. Lots of days where I need the support of my family. I do remember sitting in a hospital bed, feeling pretty ill.

"I've spent a lot of time in a hospital in Manchester, seeing some unbelievably sick people, with bandanas on their head, very fragile, very frail. I know the feeling of lack of energy. Your body just empties of energy. It's hard to walk, never mind.

"To stand up, it was a chore to stand up. Days when I had to sit down in the shower, hopefully that's not too personal, but just the lack of energy. I'm trying to get to where I am today, bouncing, full of energy. I can feel it coming out of me."