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Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis has spoken ahead of Middlesbrough’s tough, intensive schedule.

Before the early Saturday afternoon match at home to Leeds , Middlesbrough have a 500-mile round trip down to Newport in the FA Cup tonight. Whoever wins this will have a glamour tie at home to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the last 16.

“It's a run of games, and it's unfortunate that the FA Cup is placed in between so many important games,” said Pulis.

“But that's the way the fixtures go now.

“For me it’s still the greatest cup competition in the world - and the games there so we’ve got to go out and win.”

“We know it’s going to be tough. The team we put out will be ready for that.”

Newport have already managed one giant-killing this season, after knocking out Premier League side Leicester. Leeds fans will remember the difficulty of a trip to Rodney Parade all too well, after the Whites infamous third round cup exit there last season.

Pulis, a proud son of Newport, returns to his hometown for the midweek cup fixture. But he refuses to be distracted by sentimentality as he revealed it will be a quick in-and-out trip to have them best prepared for Saturday’s match.

“I won’t see much of Newport,” he said.

“We fly in, I’ll be in the hotel for an hour, prepare and play the game then fly straight home to get ready for Leeds.

“I won’t be going out into Newport. I won’t be going for a drink or anything like that.

“I haven’t got time for all that. My life is absolutely fixed on getting the best results for this club.”

Boro will then welcome Leeds to the Riverside on Saturday for a 1pm kick-off.

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