 JONAS GUTIERREZ goes in tomorrow night against Coventry City insisting that he can handle the rough and tumble of the Coca-Cola Championship. And the United ace believes that South America is a tougher place to play football. The Toon winger underwent a tough and thorough physical examination against Watford on Saturday but emerged smiling after the game following one of his best performances so far in a black-and-white shirt. And despite the hard working winger being one of the most fouled players in the Championship this season, Jonas told the Chronicle today: “I can take being kicked. “If it is not intended to deliberately hurt me. “Football is a sport of contact so for me it is not too much of a problem. “The kicks that I took against Watford came from players who didn’t do it with bad intentions.” Jonas ended the game on the deck after a foul from Watford’s John Eustace resulted in the player using his hands to throw him to the turf. World Cup bound Jonas joked: “At one stage one player picked me up with his hands and threw me to the ground! “It was funny in some ways. “But it was because it was the last five minutes and his team desperately needed a goal. “I can totally understand as everybody wants to beat us.” However, Jonas does not feel that the Championship is the toughest in the world and says that representing Argentina against Brazil will always offer more brutality. He said: “All around the world the games are tough and physical. “You have to be prepared for it. “Believe me when I go away with Argentina the games in World Cup qualifying against Brazil are much, much worse.” United return to Coventry tomorrow night for the first time since last term’s Carling Cup second round win under Kevin Keegan. That night Keegan discovered that James Milner would be sold to Aston Villa, but the 3-2 result at least means happy memories for several of United’s table-topping stars. Looking ahead to Coventry, Jonas said: “If we can get the same result as last time that would be great. “We have to win. “We know that the other teams in the Championship want to beat us because we’re the biggest team in the league. “For every team it is their best game of the season and all the fans look forward to it for the home teams. “If we keep doing the same things we have been doing, we’ll be fine.” MIDDLESBROUGH top scorer Adam Johnson could return for tonight’s visit of Blackpool as Gordon Strachan’s side attempts to mount an automatic promotion challenge. England Under-21 star Johnson missed the 5-1 demolition of QPR at the weekend due to a family illness but was back in training yesterday. West Brom can narrow Newcastle’s lead to one point with victory over Cardiff tonight. But Roberto Di Matteo’s Baggies will be without striker Luke Moore a (thigh injury) nnd winger Jerome Thomas (hamstring) at The Hawthorns. Leicester will attempt to enhance their promotion credentials with a home game against Bristol City. | 
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