STEWART Downing is in line for a return to the Middlesbrough line-up for Saturday's test against Manchester United.

Downing has missed Boro's last two fixtures, the 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool and the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, with a groin strain, but boss Gareth Southgate says he expects his winger to be back in the side to face Sir Alex Ferguson's high-fliers.

Southgate revealed Downing was left out of the squad as a precautionary measure and could have played at Villa Park at a push.

But the manager admitted he erred on the side of caution to ensure Downing is in peak condition for Saturday's 5.15pm kick-off.

"He could possibly have played against Villa, but I wasn't prepared to take the chance with the injury," revealed Southgate.

"It is important I look beyond the short-term because he is a valuable asset and I didn't want to play him on Saturday and then lose him for four or five games.

"It is difficult to take that decision with a player of his quality, and he was keen to play. But I thought it was right for him.

"Last year, he played for us (against Charlton Athletic) when he probably shouldn't have done, and he missed three months. I have to weigh those things up. Looking after his welfare is more important than anything else."

Southgate also paid tribute to his captain George Boateng, who bounced back to form while facing his old team at the weekend.

The boss made known the Dutchman's recent below-par performances have been a result of him playing through the pain barrier and having the extra responsibilities which come with being captain.

"Being the captain is a big change for him," acknowledged Southgate. "He's had to take a lot of responsibly and experiences he won't have had before.

"In the last week or ten days he is a lot happier and freer in his movement. He has been carrying a few knocks and it is the mark of the man that he wasn't prepared to use them as an excuse. Lesser people wouldn't haven't done that.

"I had a feeling he would be up for the Villa game. He has come in for a little bit of criticism recently, and I can understand why. But when I see his desire to do well and his desire to get out there with the array of knocks he has been carrying, I'm even more impressed with him.

"Leadership is made up of many different aspects and, for me, George's attitude is a sign of being a winner. He always wants to do the right thing for the team and there have been a couple of times recently when I have had to physically drag him off the field because he wouldn't have come off himself.

"I thought his performance (on Saturday) was right back to his best."

* Matthew Bates has returned to Middlesbrough from a loan spell at Ipswich after suffering a serious knee injury.

The 19-year-old was stretchered off during Saturday's defeat by Barnsley and scans showed he has a torn cruciate ligament as well as medial ligament damage.

* Wayne Rooney has claimed Chelsea's massive squad could prove to be a hindrance rather than a help in the latter stages of the Barclays Premiership title race.

It has been suggested Manchester United's present squad is too small to maintain a title quest throughout the winter.

But Rooney said: "Chelsea have spent millions on players and having some of them on the sidelines could unsettle them a little bit."