STEWART DOWNING made a satisfying return to the Riverside Stadium this afternoon as Middlesbrough ended their pre-season schedule with a narrow 1-0 victory over Spanish side Getafe.

The former West Ham playmaker, after completing a £7m move from Upton Park last month, linked play up nicely from start to finish as the man behind lone striker Kike and he even teed up the Spaniard with the winning goal.

And he almost marked his first game at the home of Middlesbrough for more than six years with a goal when his curling effort after the restart was expertly turned away by Getafe goalkeeper Guaita.

The game also presented a late talking point when Lee Tomlin, who was named on the bench, was the only player unused and he appeared to be replaced among the substitutes list by Friday loan recruit from Southampton Jack Stephens.

Tomlin, fuelling speculation surrounding his future, actually left the Riverside before kick-off with Aitor Karanka claiming afterwards that he had left because of illness. 

Getafe, who fielded loan signing from Sunderland Santiago Vergini at the heart of their defence, had chances themselves and Middlesbrough were fortunate not to fall behind to the La Liga club in front of just over 6,000 fans.

Nevertheless this was more about head coach Aitor Karanka having the chance to field his strongest available side ahead of next Sunday’s Championship opener at Preston and he did just that.

Adam Reach and Albert Adomah provided width and Downing was in behind the striker and, after early teething problems, the forward line created the opening goal.

After picking up possession 25 yards out, Downing powerfully rolled a pass in to the feet of Kike inside the area. The Spaniard’s first touch brought the ball under control and his second was a sweet side-footed finish around Guaita after 55 minutes.

And the 31-year-old almost got on the scoresheet himself when his curling left foot shot, after cutting inside his man on the right, was turned away by the flying left hand of Guaita moments later.

After Downing had made way with 22 minutes remaining to allow Diego Fabbrini, a loan signing from Watford, Middlesbrough still looked comfortable in defence, which included the impressive teenager Dael Fry in the absence of injured Ben Gibson.

After that the majority of substitutions were made to slow the game down even more, but Karanka can be satisfied with the final performance of pre-season and now turns his focus to the opening trip to Deepdale.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos (Mejias 46); Kalas (Nsue 68), Ayala (Stephens 86), Fry (Jackson 86), Friend (Husband 86); Leadbitter (Forshaw 68), Clayton (Carayol 75); Adomah (Wildschut 75), Downing (Fabbrini 68), Reach (Maloney 75); Kike. Subs all used.

Getafe: Guaita; Alexis, Vergini, Rodriguez (Lafita 63), Suarez; Lacen (Lago 86), Martin; Pedro (Campos 70), Sarabia (Gomez 70), Buendia (Medran 63); Vazquez (Arcas 86). Subs: Megyeri, Bispo, Cala, Lafita, Alberto, Carbonell, Galan, Medrann, Mbaka, Gil.