Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is in line to make his full debut against Middlesbrough.

But he knows he has to operate at a consistently high level or face the axe from ruthless manager Juande Ramos.

"It was very important to play because I've trained a lot and so far I'd only really played for the reserve team," the 20-year-old midfielder told the official Spurs website.

"It was perfect for me, an amazing feeling. I was told when we were on a walk on Saturday, the manager was speaking to another player and he told me I would play.

"He also told me if I didn't play well, someone else would come in. It's pressure but it's good because it's honest. You have to be like that. If you don't play well, someone else comes in. That's professional football."