MARK SCHWARZER has been a long-term friend of Gareth Southgate, and insists the Middlesbrough manager's work this season will not be measured over the next four days.

After Manchester City visit the Riverside Stadium tomorrow for a match Boro need to win to preserve hopes of finishing in the top seven, Southgate's men face Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final replay at Old Trafford on Monday.

If they lose both Middlesbrough's season will effectively be over with eight games remaining, meaning a fruitless finish to Southgate's first campaign in management.

"He will not be judged on the result at Manchester United, no way," said Schwarzer, who used to share lifts with the club's former skipper.

"Look at the results since the new year. There is a tremendous atmosphere at the club, it's a good place to be, players are happy and want to be here. They want to play and win."

From 15 matches since the turn of the year Middlesbrough have lost just once - to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. And Schwarzer insists preparations for the visit of City will not be distracted by developments at Eastlands, where many are predicting manager Stuart Pearce will be sacked if the Light Blues lose again.

"If the manager's under pressure that can be bad for us, sometimes it makes them more difficult to play against," said Schwarzer. "But they will be on a knife edge. Every mistake will count, and it is difficult in that situation, the atmosphere changes dramatically when you keep losing."

Schwarzer, meanwhile, revealed his belief that David James should still be England's first choice goalkeeper, instead of Tottenham's Paul Robinson, ahead of next week's European Championships qualifiers.

"David James is the best English goalkeeper, the best goalkeeper in the country," he said. "No disrespect to the rest, I just think he is a bit better. His all-round game is better, physically he's got everything and it's a shame he is not getting a chance.

"James has never held back, never changed his game because of the criticism he's got. He's proved again this season that he's the best 'keeper in England."