STEVE McCLAREN insists Stewart Downing's future lies with Middlesbrough and has backed the wing-wonder to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the latest England squad.

Despite a growing belief that Downing was guaranteed an England squad spot for the friendly against Spain next Wednesday, the young Boro star was only named in the Under-21s.

There is still a chance national team boss Sven Goran Eriksson could call on the left-midfielder if players selected by the Swede pick up injuries over the weekend.

Downing's form has apparently alerted champions Arsenal, who are reportedly planning a £10m swoop for Middlesbrough's boy wonder.

But, having only signed a new four-year deal in the summer, McClaren, Eriksson's right-hand man, is delighted to have the 20-year-old tied down and has told the Teessider to strive for consistency if he wants to work his way into the England seniors team.

"When Stewart signed he was probably one of the best signings this club made during the summer," said McClaren, who handed Downing his full Premiership debut at Ipswich in April 2002.

"We are very pleased with him and it's premature to talk about him going anywhere else. He's enjoying it at Middlesbrough. Playing with good players, he's in Europe and we're in the top six in the Premier League. He's playing and doing well. What more could a player of his age want?

"You always worry that young players can get carried away with the hype and publicity surrounding them but we are delighted with him.

"I have seen him perform well at Old Trafford and in key away European games; he has matured a lot. Those games are the biggest tests for young players. If he can perform at that level, he can perform anywhere."

Despite Downing's omission from Eriksson's latest squad, McClaren wants the youngster from Pallister Park to continue to hit the heights he has been reaching so far this season.

By Downing's already high standards he was disappointing in the defeat at Liverpool in midweek and McClaren believes to become a household name players have to shine on a regular basis.

"Sven knows all about him and the hype about him has been a little premature," said McClaren, who knows Downing's next chance for an England call-up will be for the friendly with Holland in February.

"I've been impressed with his attitude and he knows that it's not just about the past six weeks, it's about continuing that. He's 20-years-old. He's been a regular for two months but he has the longer period in front of him. It would have been terrific for him but he will get his chance again."

Downing will be hoping to terrorise a West Brom defence tomorrow afternoon lifted by the arrival of Bryan Robson as Baggies' manager - the man who was in charge of Middlesbrough when the winger first signed at the club's Academy.

Robson oversaw the building of Middlesbrough's new Academy and it is his successor, McClaren, who is now reaping the benefits of many years hard work that have gone before by many, including Robson, Dave Parnaby, Mark Proctor and the recruitment staff.

Youngsters James Morrison and Tony McMahon will be in the squad alongside Downing for the trip to The Hawthorns.

McClaren said of Robson: "He laid a fantastic foundation here and I was lucky. When he first came here they were 14th in the old First Division. They then got to three cup finals and into the Premier League. He put Middlesbrough on the map."

McClaren insist he is delighted to see Robson back in Premiership management for the first time since leaving the Riverside in the summer of 2001, but believes the appointment has come at the wrong time for Middlesbrough.

McClaren's men have gone five Premiership matches unbeaten and have won their last two away games - at Charlton and Blackburn - ahead of the trip to the West Midlands.

McClaren said: "It will make a difference that Bryan has gone there. He's a new manager, it's a home game and there's huge pressure to perform on the day.

"West Brom will have the motivation and adrenaline pumping through them. It's his first game against his old team and he had great success here.

"I think he can succeed there. Everyone who has played at the highest level has a chance. He proved a success here and with more experience at West Brom there's no reason why he shouldn't do well. I am surprised it's taken him so long to get back into the game but it's good to see him back."

McClaren, who rested Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ray Parlour and Gareth Southgate in the Carling Cup defeat at Liverpool, has no fresh injury worries, while right-back Michael Reizger (shoulder) and Ugo Ehiogu (calf) are less than two weeks away from coming back into contention.

West Brom, with former Middlesbrough player Jonathan Greening in midfield, have won just once this season, and McClaren said: "We have to move on quickly from the midweek defeat but this squad can move on quickly. It's a test of character."

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