United centre-back Neill Collins is ready to lock horns with a number of familiar faces at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

United make the short trip up the A19 to take on a Middlesbrough side who are managed by our former title skipper Gordon Strachan and boast a strong Scottish influence within their ranks.

Kris Boyd, Stephen McManus, Scott McDonald, Lee Miller, Kevin Thomson, Andrew Halliday, and the suspended Barry Robson are all from north of the border, and former Celtic boss Strachan has bolstered the ranks with his own mini Tartan Army.

"I used to play against Kris Boyd at school, and I played against and with quite a few of the others with the under-21s so there's some good battles to look forward to," said Neill.

"They are one club with a huge scottish contingent. It'd be extra special to beat a team with so many of our compatriots.

"Middlesbrough are also one of our rivals this season because they will move up the table. We want to keep them down where they are because they are one of the stronger teams in the division."

United resume the league campaign on the back of a start that has seen Simon Grayson's men well-placed in 10th position. Grayson's side have impressed on occasions and have also suffered two wake-up calls during the opening months of the season.

"Weve come up and its a learning experience for everyone," added Neill.

"Aftter being in League One for three years players get used to a certain game and this is a more ruthless league. We have some really good results in and amongst the defeats so we have to take the good things and not the bad things.

"It's still almost too early to look at the table. Once the internationals are out of the way you look in November and December and if you are in touching distance of the Play-Offs come January you can start to move on."

Big match preview for Boro trip...