Boro travel to Millwall on Saturday for the second of four crunch clashes against sides trying to escape the Football League's second tier for the Premier League.
The Teessiders slipped up in the first test against highflying Swansea, losing a 3-1 lead to go down 4-3 at the Riverside.
Despite the setback Tony Mowbray's side have already shown, under his brief stewardship this season, that they can compete with the best after a win against Cardiff and draws with Leeds and Norwich. Franks is confident Boro can reproduce that form again.
The 20-year-old believes Middlesbrough can tame the Lions at the New Den, and give a good account of themselves in the club's following contests at the Riverside against league leaders QPR and Nottingham Forest.
It has been a disappointing season for a Middlesbrough fan, admitted the fleet-footed winger. And it's disappointing to see the club struggling but with the payers and personnel we've got we shouldn't be struggling. But we have to stick together and get ourselves out of it.
Franks accepted the change of personnel at the top has not helped the club's progress on the pitch but believes he is beginning to see the fruits of the new regime's labour coming to fruition.
I think things are looking up for the club, said an optimistic Franks. It is a difficult job for the gaffer and we all know that and that is why we have to stick together.
Every manager is different.
Gareth Southgate was different to Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray is different to Strachan. They all have different training methods and it is going to take time but there is slow improvement here.
Franks is one of several players this term who has been cursed by injury. No sooner was he given a run out against Norwich, in January, then he was out again through injury.
But the Teessider, who returned to the fold a month later and started at Palace before he was given yet another late cameo last weekend against the Swans, revealed he is itching to get back in the side.
I've had numerous talks with the coaches and the gaffer and I want to get back in but the gaffer says he's not going to pick me if I'm not ready. He says he wants me to get the fans off their feet and I've got to work hard in training and achieve that.
We need a bit of pace and width and luckily I've got that. I've just got to show the gaffer what I can do and he will pick me in future weeks.
There is a role for me I just have to prove it.
We have a good bond in the dressing room, everyone gets on with everyone. We know we're in a bad situation but everyone has to stick together so we can get out of it.
Meanwhile, with Julio Arca, Barry Robson and Andrew Taylor struggling to make this weekend's trip to Millwall, the Boro boss was handed some good news in that Rhys Williams and Willo Flood came through unscathed from a behind closed doors clash.
The both played 45 minutes against Sheffield United yesterday, while Tarmo Kink and Mickael Tavares also saw some action at the Rockcliffe Park training ground pitch.
While this weekend's trip to south London may come too early for Flood and Williams, Mowbray was delighted to have them back in his squad.
He said: They're getting closer. Willo brings great energy to the team, so it will be good to have him back, while Rhys looks a fantastic athlete who cruises around the pitch.
So it will be great to have him available in the near future.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo