Williams, 22, has been working hard in the gym over the international break as part of an ongoing exercise programme to ensure his fitness, after an injury he labelled a 'nightmare'.

“The lads were off last week but I was in nearly every day,” Williams told the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette.

“I can’t afford to slacken off and put myself at risk of it happening again. So that’s why I’ve been in every day to work on it.

“It’s something that’s there all the time. Even in training I’m wary of it. But I don’t want to give less than 100 per cent in anything I do.”

He added: “The international break has still come at the right time for me.

“I’ve had three and a bit games in a very short period of time, after being out for almost a year.

“I think my performances have been OK since I came back but it’s a lot of football to play in a short period. The break has given me the chance to get in some rest.”

Williams also said he wouldn't settle for finishing the season off at 18th-placed Middlesbrough by simply avoiding the drop.

“I am very ambitious. I want to be playing with the lads at the highest possible level,” he said.

“I’m not happy with where we are in the league. We’ve got nine games left and we need to see how far we can get up the league before the season ends.

“We’ve been playing decent football. We have to approach every one of the games looking to win them.

“We have to finish the season strongly and then we have to carry it on next season and try to take the club back to where it belongs.”

Middlesbrough host Leicester City in the Championship this Saturday.