STEWART DOWNING has admitted extending his stay at Middlesbrough will be easy if he feels his career continues to benefit from being on Teesside.

The 20-year-old winger has enjoyed a scintillating first full season as a regular at the Riverside Stadium and his form has led to him being called into two England squads.

Talks are at an early stage between player and club but Downing is convinced he can agree fresh terms and it has been suggested that he will pen a new four-year deal in the not-too-distant future.

The product of the club's Academy is seen as a long-term England prospect and he is expected to become a household name on the Premiership and international stages over the next decade.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is one who is known to be a huge admirer of the youngster's talents but Boro, Downing's boyhood heroes, remain close to his heart.

Downing said last night: "The contract talks have started but there is still a long way to go. I have some big decisions to make. The talks have started and hopefully they will be sorted out soon.

"If things are right on the playing side then I will have no problem with staying here."

But he did insist that he is in no rush to thrash out a deal with his employers, claiming he does not want to dive in too early and make the wrong choice.

"It depends on the player how long contract negotiations take. Young players tend to jump in. It's been a big season for me and I need to make big decisions for my future," he said.

Downing's pledge to try to commit his future to Boro came on the same day that another young Boro wing-wizard vowed to do the same.

Adam Johnson made his first appearance in a Boro shirt against Sporting Lisbon in March at the tender age of 17 and Liverpool are keen on signing the starlet.

But Johnson's agent Ian Elliott said: "We haven't heard anything from Liverpool. He is happy with life at Middlesbrough and talks are ongoing over a deal for Adam."

Meanwhile, Boro fans are adding their weight to the club's chances of securing the final UEFA Cup spot by making a mad rush for tickets.

There were just 1,000 tickets remaining for Saturday's showdown with Tottenham at the Riverside Stadium and the away fans have sold all of their allocated 3,000.

It is expected that all remaining tickets will be sold before match-day and Boro are hoping the Teesside public will act as a major force as Steve McClaren's men look to reclaim seventh place from the Londoners.

Boro play Manchester City, the only other UEFA Cup place hopefuls, a week on Sunday in the final game of the campaign and the City of Manchester Stadium will also be a sell-out.

The 2,200 away tickets have already been snapped up and the demand was far higher but Boro, who had to stipulate how many they wanted five weeks ago, have had to make do with the lower figure.

The number allocated to Boro cannot be increased now as City have sold all remaining tickets, ensuring the final Premiership game of the season will be played in front of a packed house.

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