GARETH Southgate has reassured Stewart Downing he has plenty of time to fulfil his international ambitions, even if he is overlooked by Sven Goran Eriksson for this summer's World Cup finals.

The 21-year-old was omitted from the England squad ahead of last week's 2-1 win over Uruguay at Anfield, and was forced to make do with a place in the U-21s.

He was pulled out of Peter Taylor's squad following a reaction to the knee injury which has already ruled him out for five months of the season, and which looks to have put paid to his hopes of featuring in Germany this summer.

Although Southgate is refusing to dismiss Downing's chances of forcing his way into the England set-up this time, he believes he will get his chance at the World Cup in South Africa in four years.

"I think he has to look after his knee and we can't afford to push him too fast," said Southgate, who has 57 caps for his country and was in the squad for Japan and South Korea four years ago.

"He has some huge games coming up against AS Roma. If he's fit for them then it is a huge stage for him to show what he can do.

"He'll be looking to get a run of matches as much as anything and if he can force his way in then brilliant but he's young enough to know his time will come."

If Eriksson wants an update on the Teessider's progress this term he has the ideal man in place in his England coach, Boro boss Steve McClaren.

With left-sided players thin on the ground, Downing would appear to offer Eriksson an option in attack, but Southgate is unsure if squad balance is high on the Swede's agenda.

"I don't know what is in his mind as to what balance he wants in his squad or what type of player he wants," said Southgate.

Downing is hopeful of being involved against Roma at the Riverside on Thursday after missing the last two games with a knee injury.

* Dutch giants Feyenoord have ruled out a move for Middlesbrough's midfield enforcer George Boateng.

He is free to speak to interested clubs with his contract expiring this summer, and his former club were believed to be monitoring his situation.

But when asked about the possibility of signing the 30-year-old, Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman said: "He earns some millions a year in England, it's for us impossible to do something."

McClaren remains hopeful he can hang on to the player and recently indicated the two parties are close to agreeing a new deal.

* West Brom boss Bryan Robson has confirmed he was interested in signing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during the transfer window.

"We looked at Hasselbaink at the last minute during the January window," said Robson, who saw a deal to land Boro's Ugo Ehiogu break down. "But it was a case again of the wage bill here just couldn't take on someone like Jimmy and nothing happened."

* Stuart Parnaby is expected to be out for up to a month after picking up a hamstring injury.