But it would be a price worth paying for the 28-year-old Pools ace who is yet to be on the winning side against the club where he was on the books for six years as a schoolboy.

The Whites triumphed by the odd goal in five in a Carling Cup second-round tie in September, while the hosts won 2-0 on Monkhouse's previous visit to his home-town club just over 12 months' earlier.

The latter was a game in which Pools were desperately unfortunate as United memorably wiped out the 15-point deficit imposed on them by the Football League at the start of the 2007/08 campaign.

But though Monkhouse's friends held the bragging rights, that didn't stop the languid winger – who hails from Roundhay – getting some grief for scoring early on in the North Easterners' cup visit to LS11 earlier this term.

However, ultimately his mates had the last laugh – by virtue of a last-gasp 3-2 Leeds triumph – and they will be expecting more of the same this weekend albeit with a greater degree of comfort.

The victory rubbed salt in the wounds for Monkhouse, who was in exalted company during his spell with the Whites in the early to mid 1990s – only to be forced to find his teenage footballing kicks elsewhere.

And while any celebrations will be off the agenda this weekend if Danny Wilson's troops do spring a surprise, you detect that Monkhouse would gain a certain amount of inward pleasure.

Getting a starting berth is the first priority although given the fact the Monkhouse came on from the bench in the 64th minute to help inspire Pools to a come-from-behind 2-1 FA Cup replay win over Brighton on Tuesday the portents are good.

Monkhouse, who has already notched five goals this term and is on course to beat his best-ever seasonal tally of nine when Hartlepool won promotion from League Two in 2006/07, said: "None of my family as such support Leeds, but a lot of my mates do and when I scored in the Carling Cup they weren't too happy.

"Quite a few of my mates were there but, unfortunately for us, (Andy) Robinson scored in the last minute. It was a nice moment for me to score though.

"We played well, as we did at Elland Road last season when Wisey was in charge, and it would be nice to win there for a change.

"I needed a few tickets for the Carling Cup game and I've needed a few more for Saturday.