The Swansea City captain was in just his second game as Captain when he went to Scunthorpe in 2006 only to see his season end with a career threatening injury.
And you could forgive Monk for not liking lining up against the Iron – his red card at the Liberty earlier in the season was the first of three for the Swans on the night as they crashed out of the Carling Cup.
Speaking to the Western Mail, Monk said “It was probably my worst-ever moment in football
“So it’s not a place which holds happy memories.
“This will be the first season I’ve had the chance to go back. I’ll be honest, and admit it was one of the first fixtures I looked at when the list came out.
“A few people have mentioned it this week, especially my family, and I’ve definitely been thinking about it. That’s only natural, I suppose.
“During the pre-match warm-up is when I’ll probably think of it more.
“But once you get started, you just get on with the game. If I am picked, it’d be nice to put a performance in, just as a little thanks to all the people who supported me when the injury happened.
“In a way, I look back on it as a good thing,” he said. “I didn’t think that at the time, mind you – not when I was on the gas, lying on the floor.
“Nor two days later, when the surgeon said that if the nerve was damaged, my career could be over.
“It was hard to take. But in a weird way, it was maybe the best thing that could have happened to me. It gave me a different outlook on things and made me a stronger person.
“I came back at the end of that season and trained all the way through the summer.
“I’m a better player; the last three seasons I’ve played the best football of my life.
“It’s been a really good run after a slow start,” said Monk.
“And we could even have nicked a couple more points than we have.
“When we drew eight games in a row last season, maybe it was a bit disappointing not to win a couple more.
“But not losing breeds confidence, and this run is doing the same.
“You can see it in the boys right now.
“Don’t get me wrong – if you can be up there among the leaders from the start, it’s where you want to be.
“You don’t really care about coming up on the rails if you’re already in front.
“But we’re not far off. We’ve played a few of those sides above us, and there’s not much that’s better than us at all.
“This division is the same as ever.
“You win two or three games, you’re right up there. Lose two or three, and you’re dragged down into the bottom half.
“Look at Sheffield United all of a sudden and the way they’ve dropped.
“And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ipswich start pushing up the league if they get a couple of wins.”
