WHEN Middlesbrough walk out at the home of the Premier League champions this afternoon, there will be an argument for Aitor Karanka to send his players out Livin’ on a Prayer.

After all, the majority of the country will not be giving one of the Championship’s promotion favourites much of a hope in progressing in to the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Manchester City.

Patrick Bamford, the Boro forward on loan from Chelsea, has only ever been to the Etihad Stadium once before - for a Bon Jovi concert - and regardless of how the bookmakers view the tie he for one will be keeping the faith.

"I think we have a chance,” said Bamford, during a week when he ended his six-game run without a goal. ”I watched them against Sheffield Wednesday in the last round and they were pushed all the way.

“We showed against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup we can compete with Premier League opposition so hopefully, we will do the business. I watched Arsenal beat them last Sunday too.

“If you have a good game-plan and stick to it, you always have a chance. I am sure the gaffer has studied that game and has found a way we are going to overcome the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero ..."

To many teams outside of the top tier the prospect of facing the reigning Premier League champions on home turf would be a daunting one. This Middlesbrough group are full of confidence, they have been all season, so are keen to show they can mix it with the best.

Middlesbrough, after spending six years out of the top-flight, are desperate to return to the Etihad next season in the league, so this is an early opportunity to find out what the fuss is about.

Bamford, who still has aspirations to return to prove his worth as a Chelsea player after his loan on Teesside, is one of the few Middlesbrough players to have been to the Etihad before, although not for what many would think.

“The only time I have ever been there was for a concert - never seen a game there, let alone play in one,” said the 21-year-old. “Two summers ago, I went to see Bon Jovi there.

“When I moved to Chelsea, the first hotel I lived in I became really good friends with the manageress of the hotel and I went to a charity dinner and did the raffle. One of the auction prizes was Bon Jovi tickets - I only had to bid about £60 for them! I was taken around Manchester and out for dinner the night before then went to the concert.”

The musical theme sticks with public school educated Bamford. The erudite young striker, who had the opportunity to go to Harvard University while he was a scholar at Nottingham Forest, has thought about pulling out a musical instrument to warm up his team-mates before today’s meeting with City. He has plenty of options too.

“I've learnt the violin, piano and saxophone,” said Bamford. “It started at primary school when everyone had to learn the recorder and then one of my best mates wanted to learn the violin. I thought I may as well do it too.

“After a bit I wanted to quit but my Dad always says that when you start something, you must finish it so he would not let me quit. I carried on and then a few years later I picked up the sax and the piano as well.”

He is not willing to stop there, though. He is teaching himself to play the guitar and feels he is getting somewhere, but is happy for his feet to do the talking on the pitch before he starts to appear on the X-Factor.

"It's going well. I play every day. I really enjoy it - it's something to take my mind off things and helps me to relax. I found with music, if I have had a bad day at training or in a match, it just relaxes me,” said Bamford.

"I make up my own chords and stuff like that but I’ve not really written anything yet. I do go on the Playstation from time to time but find there's nothing better than a bit of strumming or listening to music to relax.

“I probably play about an hour every day or until my fingers get sore. I don't want to piss off the neighbours too much because the sound-proofing in my flat is awful. I don't want to annoy them too much.”

He hasn’t quite got round to belting out Bon Jovi’s classics A capella just yet, but he is getting there. “I first typed in ‘Easy Songs to learn’ and then this guy popped up, an American. He puts up a lot of tutorial videos, hundreds of them on his channel,” he said.

"I have learned Brown Eyed Girl and one of the boys has told me to learn More Than Words by Extreme and that took me about an hour and a half to learn. Maggie May, Rob Stewart and the first one I learned was Wonderwall.

"I don't really do the vocals. I tried but don't think I am really good enough yet to keep the rhythm going. Hopefully one day! I haven't brought the guitar into training yet or for an overnight stay but it would be a nice thing to do.”

If Bamford’s guitar playing is not heard in Manchester today, what will be the motivational tunes inside the dressing room when Karanka is not delivering his teamtalk?

“Ben Gibson is in charge of music on matchdays - he puts his choices on which are good,” said the England Under-21 international. “No one really complains. Sometimes Albert (Adomah) gets in there and puts his Afrobeats on but that gets turned off pretty quick - sometimes it is OK.

“Maybe next season, I'll take my guitar with me on trips. Yes, I think I might do that.”

While developing his guitar playing skills occupy his mind away from the training ground, his main priority is continuing to shine on the pitch. Since arriving from Chelsea, he has scored nine times in a Middlesbrough shirt to significantly boost the club’s promotion chances.

He said: “I put quite a bit of pressure on myself to score. My last goal (before Tuesday’s opener against Cardiff) was against Derby (December 13) but since then, I have played four of my games on the wing, one up front and one off the bench.

“It is not too bad. But, hopefully, I can go on a bit of a run now because that is what usually happens. I score one and the rest follow.”

Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea boss, receives weekly updates from his close friend Karanka on the performances of Bamford. His form for Middlesbrough has been good this season, which has led to talk of a permanent £2m switch to Teesside or elsewhere.

Mourinho could still decide to have the prospect back at Stamford Bridge next season. Bamford said: "Obviously I know I am a Chelsea asset but when I am out on loan I like to think that is my club.

“I feel part of Boro and feel involved in the club as much as anyone else. But there is no chance of forgetting that I am a Chelsea player because the gaffer is constantly talking to Jose Mourinho, and he says every so often, that Jose is keeping an eye on me.

"I was always going to stay here after January 1. I initially agreed to a six month deal until Christmas for one, in case I did not play regularly, and two, if there was a chance of a Premier League club coming in for me.

“Once I started playing here and doing well, I was happy staying here. Even if a Premier League club came in this month, I don't see any point of starting afresh. I have set up a base here, got my feet under the table and love it.”

Then, maybe, he will complete a full-time switch to Middlesbrough? First of all, Bon Jovi fan Bamford wants to go out in a Blaze of Glory when he returns to the Etihad today.