STEWART DOWNING is proving why he deserves to stay in the Middlesbrough team despite a hefty list of new arrivals, claims one of his biggest admirers and manager Tony Pulis.

Despite turning 34 in July, Downing has started every one of Boro’s 13 league matches so far and is clearly enjoying himself under Pulis.

The Middlesbrough manager has given him the licence to roam around freely and at Hillsborough on Friday night he linked the midfield and attack well in the No 10 role.

Downing was an important factor in the 2-1 win which lifted Middlesbrough to the top of the Championship; a position they still hold after the other weekend results went their way.

The former Liverpool and West Ham man’s clever backheel helped to create the opener for Mo Besic just after half-time, and he was a nuisance throughout with his ability to unlock the defence with his ability in possession.

Pulis said: “Stewart is a proper pro, a proper player. He knows the game. He gets sloppy at times because it is too easy for him at this level but I think the world of Stewart.

“We will pick up the running stats from the Sheff Wed game and him and Jonny Howson will have run further than anyone else. At times Stewart was sublime for us.”

Downing’s versatility is certainly something his manager likes, as is the experience of playing at the highest level. From day one, Pulis had identified the former England man as someone he would rely on in the dressing room and on the pitch.

And what has become clear in recent weeks is just hope important Danish international Martin Braithwaite has become to the Middlesbrough cause too.

Braithwaite was shipped out on loan last January to Bordeaux following Pulis’ arrival and he had angled for a move again during the summer.

Instead, having failed to secure a switch to Spain before the deadline, he remained and after a chat with his boss there is a better understanding between the two.

Braithwaite was left out of the Sheffield Wednesday game because he only returned from Denmark duty the day before, and he had played both internationals too.

The former Toulouse man, however, is expected to be back in the mix to face Rotherham on Tuesday night at the Riverside.

Pulis said: “Martin didn’t come in until Thursday. The team I played at Hillsborough was the one I played against Leeds because I felt good about that, I fancied us, and that was without Martin. Now Martin has got a great responsibility on his shoulder for the next two home games.”

After the visit of Rotherham it will be the turn of Frank Lampard’s in-form Derby County to head to Teesside on Saturday – and Pulis knows how much of a challenge every game in the Championship is now.

Derby climbed up to fifth on Saturday by defeating Sheffield United at Pride Park. That was also a result that prevented the Blades, level on points with Middlesbrough, from climbing back to the top of the table.

This weekend’s meeting between Middlesbrough and Derby is shaping up to be a cracker, when Lampard will make his first trip to the region since stepping into frontline management.

And Pulis has reiterated his belief that the Football League should look at the scheduling of games, while he is appreciative of the higher quality on show in the second tier nowadays.

Pulis said: “The Championship wants to get better. There are a lot of players coming in from Premier League clubs now and they are getting call ups for international football.

“What has got to happen is they have to recognise they can’t play the amount of games they are playing and fit everything in.

“Clubs have no chance of getting money off Premier League clubs, and look at it another way, cut the games and cut the league and then you can align it with the Premier League. I am talking about aligning it to give the opportunity to be more quality.”