Perth-born Williams had not played for Boro since April 24 due to groin and pelvis injuries, but returned as a 60th-minute substitute in his side's 5-2 loss at Reading in England's Championship on Saturday.

Boro boss Tony Mowbray was delighted to see Williams, 22, back on the park after his long lay-off.

"For me the main positive is that Rhys played half an hour today," Mowbray told mfc.co.uk.

"He's got to get up speed pretty quickly. Hopefully he can add competition in the centre-midfield areas at first."

Williams' return could be in time to be considered for selection for Australia's upcoming friendly with Germany on March 29.

Meanwhile, fellow Socceroo Scott McDonald missed the clash due to illness.

"Scott has an illness and hasn't been at the training ground for the last few days," Mowbray said.

"We didn't want anyone else catching it and hopefully over the weekend he will improve."

Elsewhere, Harry Kewell also returned from injury after a few weeks out as a 74th-minute substitute but couldn't get on the scoresheet as Galatasaray drew 0-0 with Karabukspor in Turkey's Super Lig on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Lucas Neill played a full game for Cimbom in the goalless draw.

In England's Premier League, Mark Schwarzer played a full game as Fulham defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-2 on Saturday.

For Rovers, Brett Emerton was a 90th-minute substitute, while Vince Grella did not play.

Elsewhere, Chris Herd was an unused sub as Aston Villa lost 3-2 at Bolton on Saturday, while Brad Jones was not in the Liverpool squad which defeated Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday.

In Italy's Serie A, Mark Bresciano was a 77th-minute substitute in Lazio's 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday.

In Italy's Serie B, Adrian Madaschi put in a full shift as struggling Portogruaro drew 1-1 with Grosseto on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Carl Valeri played a full game as Sassuolo drew 1-1 with Cittadella on Saturday.

In Germany's Bundesliga, Mitch Langerak was back on the bench as an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund defeated FC Koln 1-0 on Friday.

In Germany's 2.Bundesliga, Socceroo Nikita Rukavytsya provided an assist in Hertha Berlin's 3-1 win over FSV Frankfurt on Friday.

Elsewhere, Dario Vidosic put in a full shift as struggling Arminia Bielefeld claimed a much-needed 2-1 victory at MSV Duisburg on Sunday.

In Holland's Eredivisie, Socceroo Brett Holman started and played 65 minutes as AZ Alkmaar lost 4-0 at Ajax Amsterdam on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Michael Zullo and Adam Sarota were both left on the bench as FC Utrecht drew 1-1 with Roda JC on Sunday. Tommy Oar was not in the Utrecht squad.

In Holland's Eerste Divisie, James Holland scored the opening goal in Sparta Rotterdam's 4-0 win over Den Bosch on Sunday. Holland played a full game.

In Greece's Super League, Nathan Burns was an unused substitute as AEK Athens defeated PAOK 4-0 on Sunday.

In Portugal's Liga de Honra, Jason Davidson played a full game as Sporting Covilha lost 2-1 at Feirense on Sunday.

In Denmark's Superliga, Socceroo Nathan Coe put in a full shift, keeping a clean sheet, as SonderjyskE won 1-0 at Esbjerg on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Brent McGrath did not play as Brondby drew 1-1 with Lyngby on Sunday.

In Switzerland's Super League, Scott Chipperfield was an 84th-minute substitute as FC Basel defeated FC Zurich 3-1 on Sunday to move seven points clear.

Returning to England's Championship, another young Australian goalkeeper made his first-team debut, with 20-year-old Daniel Ireland coming on as a 46th-minute substitute in Coventry's 4-1 loss to Bristol City.

Sydney-born Ireland got his chance after regular number one Keiren Westwood had to be replaced at half-time due to injury and did a good job making a few saves late on.

Elsewhere, Bailey Wright was another Aussie youngster to get a run this weekend, as a 65th-minute substitute in struggling Preston North End's 1-1 draw at Norwich City on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Neil Kilkenny put in a full shift as Leeds beat Doncaster 5-2 on Saturday, while Richard Garcia was back in the Hull City squad after a knee injury, but remained on the bench, as they won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

In England's League One, James Wesolowski was a 75th-minute substitute as Peterborough United beat Exeter City 3-0 on Saturday.

In England's League Two, Alex Cisak played a full game and made a number of good saves as Accrington Stanley drew 0-0 with Lincoln City on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff put in a full shift as Shrewsbury won 3-2 at Northampton, while Jamie Young played a full game as Wycombe drew 2-2 with Aldershot on Saturday.

In Scotland's Premier League, Aaron Mooy was a 90th-minute substitute as St Mirren lost 1-0 at home to Rangers on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Danny Invincibile played a full game as St Johnstone drew 1-1 with Hibernian on Saturday.

In Scotland's First Division, Ryan McGowan started and played 71 minutes as Partick Thistle drew 0-0 with Dundee on Saturday.

In Scotland's Second Division, Matthew Park and Dylan McGowan both played full games as East Fife won 3-1 at Alloa Athletic on Saturday.

In Japan's J.League, Joshua Kennedy scored a 95th-minute penalty to rescue a share of the spoils for champions Nagoya Grampus who drew 1-1 with Yokohama F. Marinos on the opening day of the season.

Elsewhere, Eddy Bosnar was sent off in the 79th minute, while Alex Brosque made his debut, playing a full 90 minutes, as Shimizu S-Pulse lost 3-0 at Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Matthew Spiranovic was an unused substitute as Urawa Reds lost 1-0 at Vissel Kobe on Sunday.

In Japan's J2.League, Mark Milligan was not in the JEF United Chiba side which won 3-0 at Giravanz Kitakyushu on Sunday.

In Korea's K-League, Iain Fyfe made his debut for Busan I'Park, playing a full game, as they lost 2-1 at Jeju United on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Luke DeVere also made his debut, putting in a full shift, as Gyeongnam FC won 1-0 against Gangwon FC, while Sasa Ognenovski played a full game as Seongnam Ilhwa drew 1-1 with Pohang Steelers.

In India's I-League, Tolgay Ozbey did not play as East Bengal's poor recent run continued with a 2-1 loss to Mumbai FC on Sunday.