Nigeria and Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has thanked Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka for playing him regularly during his loan spell at the Riverside this season.
Omeruo believes that his three-month stint with Boro helped him secure a place in the Nigeria squad for next month's World Cup in Brazil.
The centre-back already has 14 international caps for his country at the age of 20 and is off to his first World Cup, where the Super Eagles face Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iran in the group stage.
"I'm happy that I didn't disappoint [Karanka]," Omeruo, who made 14 appearances for Boro in the second half of the season, told FIFA.com.
"I knew I had to play a lot of games to be fit for the World Cup and also to make the squad.
"I had the chance to do that at Middlesbrough so it's been a really good season for me."
Omeruo is yet to make an appearance for Chelsea since joining the Blues as an 18-year-old two years ago.
Click here for Sports Mole's all-time Nigerian Top 10 as part of our World Cup countdown.
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic