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Downing looks for bright England future
STEWART DOWNING hopes that his first England cap under Fabio Capello can help to eradicate unfair claims he was a Steve McClaren favourite under the previous regime.
The Middlesbrough winger was handed his 17th cap for his country in the Stade de France on Wednesday night, when he was asked to replace Joe Cole at half-time.
Having already worked under Sven-Goran Eriksson and McClaren at international level, his latest appearance highlights the respect there is for him within the English game.
Downing, who has been in impressive form for Middlesbrough since the turn of the year, was labelled the best left-winger in the country by team-mate George Boateng earlier this week.
And he hopes to have a bigger part to play under Capello, after making a promising first impression in the 1-0 defeat to France.
"I was just buzzing to have been brought on," said Downing. "That's the third manager who has selected me for England, Capello had never worked with me before, so I don't see how anyone can throw the McClaren thing at me again.
"I was pleased with how things went for me when I went on, but what he did say to us all was that we all have to keep playing well at our clubs. Whoever is playing well at club level will be called up."
And it is that stance from Capello which offers further hope for Downing's club-mate at the Riverside Stadium, David Wheater.
Wheater was called up for the provisional 30-man squad last week, only to be left frustrated after losing out when the squad was trimmed to 23 on Saturday night.
But the young Redcar-born centre-back's inclusion in the initial list is what Downing feels Wheater should be concentrating on.
"Wheats will have been disappointed not to have been in," said Downing. "I haven't spoken to him yet. But I will be reminding him that he has done fantastically to get in the 30-man squad in his first full season.
"The manager has proven that if players are doing well then they will be given a chance. Wheats will get that if he keeps performing."
* Downing is now preparing for Boro's Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday and a full, exclusive interview with the England winger will be in Friday's The Northern Echo.
11:48am Thursday 27th March 2008
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