Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has admitted that it is important long-term injury victim Rhys Williams is eased back into action following 11 months on the sidelines.

The Australia international, who ruptured an Achilles tendon in January, returned to action on Boxing Day when he played in the final few minutes of Boro's 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.

However, Karanka says that he has no intention of rushing Williams back into the starting lineup having left him out of the squad to face Blackburn last weekend.

"It was very important for him to play again," he told the Evening Gazette. "He's been out for 11 months and I put him in the squad on Boxing Day thinking about bringing him on if we were in a good position.

"He was on the bench and we had an opportunity to give him five minutes. He's working really well on the training ground but he can't forget he has been out for 11 months."

Williams also had to sit out the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Asian Cup due to injury problems.