ONE of the most important players for the second half of Middlesbrough’s season could be right under Aitor Karanka’s nose.

And the Boro head coach might have just realised it, along with the team-mates who marvelled at a match-winning goal that secured a place in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Northern Echo:

Stewart Downing has had his ups and downs at the Riverside Stadium since returning 18 months ago. Such has been the uncertainty surrounding his future in recent weeks, it is still not completely beyond the realms of possibility that he leaves before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Crystal Palace, now managed by Sam Allardyce, one of his big admirers, remain keen on taking him if the right deal can be concluded.

There was no sign of Jordan Rhodes and Gaston Ramirez – two players likely to leave before the deadline – so the stage was set for Downing to remind everyone of the left foot which has taken him to a World Cup and through qualifying campaigns for England.

With Middlesbrough struggling to come up with a way to find the elusive winner to knock out Accrington Stanley, Downing picked up possession deep in the League Two side’s half.

The 32-year-old dropped his shoulder, side-stepped to his left to create some space away from his two markers and then powered in a thunderous finish from 22 yards inside Marek Rodak’s top right corner. It’s hard to imagine a Premier League goalkeeper stopping it either.

Karanka said: “Downing was good. I said at half-time he was one of the best players on the pitch. He showed he wants to play and is ready to play.

“He is always in my thoughts. He has taken his chance. He is a player to consider.

“I expect him to be here next month.”

Obviously, playing well against Accrington is different to shining in the top-flight, although Downing’s impressive display – which earned a hug from his manager and words of praise – could have arrived at the perfect time.

The transfer window has not gone to plan for Karanka. Robert Snodgrass, an attacking midfielder, has gone to West Ham, Bojan Krkic to Mainz, Gaston Ramirez fancies a move to Leicester City and a deal doesn’t seem close for Jese Rodriguez.

Downing, who had not started since before the turn of the year, is already part of the Middlesbrough fabric – and those he plays alongside already value his quality.

Fabio da Silva, who first came up against him during his Manchester United days, said: “He is very important to the team, he is very experienced.

“I think I played against him eight years ago. He’ll be needed, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room and on the training ground, so he’s a very important and experienced player for us. It was like a Brazilian’s goal, a good strike.

“He’s changed in eight years a bit. He’s 32 so he will have lost a little bit of pace but he compensates with the other skills he has and he’s still a great player. He is intelligent.”

Middlesbrough are up against West Brom tomorrow night in the Premier League, when three points are required as they bid to increase the four-point cushion they have to the relegation zone. Will Downing stay in the mix?

Downing and Fabio were two of the seven changes made to the starting line-up for the FA Cup and yet the Middlesbrough team was still stronger than those fielded by many top-flight sides.

The team included both Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede, £6m buys this month, but they lacked sharpness in front of goal against a team ranked 72 places below them in the league standings.

It was hardly a comprehensive display and Karanka must have been frustrated at times, while the supporters stuck by them and there was never any hint of a negative reaction towards him following last week’s criticism for their jibes about negative football.

Accrington had their chances before and after Downing’s winner in the 69th minute. The best of those arrived late on when Sean McConville headed wide and Dimi Konstantopoulos was on hand to deny Billy Kee.

Konstantopoulos played his first game since May’s promotion party and, perhaps typically, he recorded a clean sheet, as he did in record-breaking numbers last season.

Staying in the Premier League is obviously the priority, although Fabio insisted afterwards that progressing in the FA Cup carries significance too.

“I played in a semi-final against Everton at Wembley,” said the former Manchester United full-back.

“The FA Cup is very important. The FA Cup has a great tradition so we go to the next stage and hopefully I can go one better than 2009 and reach the final!”