Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams plans to play more first team for the club next season. The 20-year old is currently in Melbourne with the Socceroos for tonight's clash with Japan and is a chance of appearing in front of more than 70,000 fans on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Williams knows how much of honour it will be to represent Australia but understands he will need to become a regular Boro starter if he is to travel with the Socceroos to South Africa next season.

"It will be great to play - an absolute honour, but I know that if I'm to be a part of Pim Verbeek's World Cup plans next year I'll have to be a regular starter when I return to England," Williams said.

"That's the key for me if I'm to have a chance of making the World Cup squad next year. If you're not playing regularly for your club then you're probably not going to be in the big picture for the national team. And you can't argue with that."

Recent speculation has Williams linked with a move to recently-promoted Burnley but the player has cooled those talks.

"I'm a Middlesbrough player, Gareth Southgate has told me I'm part of his plans and I just want to play my part in getting us back in to the Premier League."