BEN GIBSON achieved a lifetime ambition when he represented his country at the Riverside on Monday night, and he will realise another long-standing dream if, as expected, he is named in Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Two huge achievements; two things ticked off the footballing ‘to do’ list. But the Middlesbrough centre-half admits neither will count for anything if they are not accompanied by promotion to the Premier League over the course of the next month.

“I’m looking forward to the tournament in the summer, but I know I won’t be going there in a good mood and I won't enjoy it as I should if we don’t get promoted,” said Gibson, who played the opening 77 minutes as England Under-21s beat Germany two days ago.

“As individuals, and as a team, we’re about to go into the biggest seven games that any of us have had in our lives. We have to take them one by one, but we’ve been doing that all season and it’ll be the same starting with Wigan on Friday. I can’t wait to get back to it now.”

With the international break over, attention reverts to domestic affairs, and the climax of a Championship promotion battle that remains too close to call.

Just six points separate the top six teams in the table, with the majority of the promotion rivals set to face each other on at least one occasion in the seven games that remain.

Middlesbrough, who currently sit third, have to travel to second-placed Watford and fourth-placed Norwich, but they are hardly alone in having a testing schedule.

Leaders Bournemouth travel to sixth-placed Ipswich on Friday, a day that will also see Watford travelling to Derby.

There will be plenty of twists and turns before the identity of the two sides gaining automatic promotion is decided on May 2, although Boro will have to ensure there is no repeat of their last outing at Bournemouth’s Goldsands Stadium if they are to remain an integral part of the picture in the matches that remain.

“That wasn't a typical Middlesbrough performance,” said Gibson, of the 3-0 defeat. “We weren’t at the races individually or as a team, we were miles off it, everyone knows that.

“It's the first time I think everyone has seen us like that this season, it was so untypical of a Middlesbrough performance. But whenever we have been beaten or haven't played well this season, we’ve always bounced back well.

“We have to make sure we do the same against Wigan and get three points. It’s a massive game. Hopefully, we win it, then we can look ahead to the Watford game.”

With question marks over Daniel Ayala’s availability, it was imperative that Gibson came through the international break unscathed.

There were a few nervous moments when the defender was forced to sit out training at the end of last week with a hamstring niggle, but Monday’s performance confirmed his wellbeing.

“I’m physically fine,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of days off to rest my muscles and recover because I’ve played a lot of football, but I got another 70-odd minutes against Germany so I’m looking forward to getting back to training.

“I’ve had a hamstring issue before and my hamstring felt a little tight after the Bournemouth game, so the understanding was I would meet up with England as long as I was monitored and looked after. That’s what they did – the staff were fantastic with me, and now I’m ready to play.”

Not only that, but Gibson has returned to domestic duties with the broadest of grins. Monday was a special night for all involved at Middlesbrough, with more than 30,000 fans packing into the Riverside as international football made a successful return to the North-East.

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No one was prouder than Gibson, with the 22-year-old playing in front of hundreds of family and friends, and helping England record a victory that stands them in good stead as they prepare for this summer’s European finals in the Czech Republic.

“It was a dream come true, and such a proud occasion for me and my family,” he said. “Not just to play for my country, but to do it on my home ground too was an amazing experience.

“The gaffer told me earlier in the week I would be playing, so I was looking forward to starting and I could focus on it.

“The reception for me when I first came out at the start of the game was phenomenal. I can’t thank people enough for that, and it felt as though it was a really good day for the area. A 30,000 crowd on such a cold night shows how much the fans love their football here.

“It could easily have been a game that filtered into nothing, with not many fans here, but the fans got right behind the team and backed us, and I’m immensely proud of our town for doing that.”