Middlesbrough midfielder Kevin Thomson has admitted there are no guarantees that he will keep his place under former Hibernian boss Tony Mowbray.The 26-year-old was a regular at Easter Road, but has only made five appearances under Mowbray this season due to a niggling leg injury.
"It's a clean slate, I don't rest on my laurels," Thomson told BBC Tees.
"I'm 26 now, I've proved I can play the game, but certainly I feel I have got to keep working hard to impress."
The Scotland international has struggled to find full fitness this season since recovering from a broken leg suffered in August's goalless draw with Leicester City.
Several attempts in October and November to return to first-team action following the injury were ended by early knocks, but Thomson now feels confident of his condition having completed the full 90 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 win against Cardiff City.
"I decided on a personal level that it wasn't fair on the boys, the manager and the supporters to be starting games and having to come off as soon as I got a bang on the leg," Thomson said.
"I had a chat with the manager, he was sympathetic to the fact that my leg was sore, so I had a week in the gym, then a week in training, and thankfully it paid off on Saturday.
"I managed to get through 90 minutes, and I felt as though I did OK so it's something to build on and fingers crossed I can do that on Friday."
Thomson, who suffered two serious knee ligament injuries during his time with Hibernian and Celtic in Scotland, has made 214 appearances during his career.
He joined Middlesbrough in July, signed for £2m from Rangers as one of Gordon Strachan's summer imports.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport