MIDDLESBROUGH'S progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup is benefiting Chris Riggott as he continues his apprenticeship to become the next captain of the club.

That is the view of Gareth Southgate, currently wearing the skipper's armband and Riggott's defensive partner in Rome on Wednesday night when they overcame the might of AS Roma.

The pair formed an integral part of the Boro backline which restricted the Italian giants to two goals, which proved just enough to steer the Premiership outfit through.

With two last-eight dates with Swiss side Basle pencilled in over the next few weeks, there is a growing belief Steve McClaren's men can keep going in the competition.

And that, according to Southgate, will be to the benefit of players like Riggott, whose consistent performances for over a year are starting to lead to more and more talk of an England chance.

With Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King and Sol Campbell all ahead of him in Sven-Goran Eriksson's pecking order, a World Cup call this summer is unlikely.

But, when Eriksson departs after the Germany finals, it is impossible to see how the new England coach can ignore the 25-year-old if his displays at club level continue to reach the sort of high standard they have in recent months.

Southgate, knowing Eriksson was in the Stadio Olimpico to witness Boro's aggregate triumph over Roma, is confident his younger colleague will continue his rise as a highly-regarded top-flight centre-back.

"Chris is improving all the time. The level of European football will aid his experience an awful lot," said Southgate of a player who earned nine caps at under-21 level. "It's a different level of concentration and type of football.

"It is not so much a physical challenge but a mental one in Europe. He'll have learnt from playing against players with better movement and teams that have better movement, and he will continue to learn.

"The European games pit you against a lot of teams who can often move the ball around a bit better, quicker and sharper. He is comfortable on the ball and he has proven he can adapt to these sort of matches."

After Wednesday's glorious outcome in Rome, Eriksson revealed his admiration for the way Boro's four young Englishmen played.

Only winger Stewart Downing is in within a serious shout of heading to the World Cup but, if Riggott does become the permanent captain when Southgate retires, the former Derby defender's chances of playing in Euro 2008 are sure to have improved.

Southgate still has a year remaining on his existing deal and, as he turns 36 in September, is intelligent enough to accept his career is reaching the final stages.

While he is still performing well the former England and Aston Villa defender wants to keep playing but does concede Riggott could be the man to fill his boots when he does decide to hang up his boots.

"I spoke to him recently because we had seen reports suggesting he was my natural successor. We had a joke about it, but I think he can be," said Southgate.

"He has proven over the past couple of years that he can secure his place in the team. It's very much up to him because he has to be driven and take on more leadership responsibility.

"He is a good player in his own right and he now has to affect players playing alongside him. He is starting to do that and he will grow into that the more he plays. He will build more and more confidence and if he can do that he will have a good career ahead of him."

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