Wing and a prayer
Injury-plagued Downing determined to battle his way into England squad
IT’S a wet, miserable morning in the north east. Stewart Downing is one of just five players at M i d d l e s b r o u g h’ s p l u s h Hurworth training centre. Everyone else at the club has been given the week off. Only the long- term injured have been forced to come in to continue their rehabilitation.
Even Steve McClaren’s visit is fleeting, to pick up some videos, before business in more glamorous climes, but his quest is the same as Middlesbrough’s young left winger, plotting a path to Germany next summer.
It’s just that the clock is ticking louder for 21-year- old Downing. Two operations on his left knee in a matter of months during the summer mean he will not play again this year. Ironically, the problem was picked up on international duty in America.
This time last year, amid a series of scintillating early season displays, he was being talked about as the answer to England’s long, fruitless search for a natural left- sided midfielder. Eriksson picked him after just three months in the Middlesbrough t e a m . N o w h e i s r a r e l y mentioned.
‘It is lonely,’ he admitted.
‘There are only five of us here. Everyone likes a week off, but you can’t have that when you’re in rehab. It sinks in when you see England heading off to play Argentina in Geneva. I feel I should be there. You see people getting a late chance for the
Weighting game: Downing on the long road to recovery World Cup, like Paul Konchesky. You like to think you would be in that
have longer this time to impress. I just
the speculation started that Manchester squad, getting your chance to stake a
have to do what I did the first time’. United were watching me, but I am claim.
When Downing was growing up in the
happy here,’ he insists.
‘Is it hurting me? I don’t know about
Park Pallister area of Middlesbrough,
‘ Playing for Middlesbrough is my hurting, but it is very frustrating. I want
his Ryan Giggs quilt cover was one of
concern. I signed a five-year contract at to get playing again because there is a
his most treasured possessions.
the start of the season. The club are long way to go.
‘He was the only out and out winger I
going in the right direction. Some
‘There have been dark moments. The
had seen,’ Downing recalls. ‘He is the
people say contracts mean nothing. I first couple of weeks after the second
only British winger in the Premiership
don’t believe that. If you sign a operation were not good. I was
and I based my game on him.
contract, you want to stay for that depressed and fed up. The club said I
‘ He has been at Manchester United
length of time and this is my club. could go away for 10 days, but I made
for 17 years and he has to be a top, top
‘My mum and dad obviously looked the decision to stay and get fit.
player for that. He excites the fans, he
after us, but where we were from was
‘ My family kept me going. The staff
likes to beat people and score goals. I
not the best area. My aim was to work here are good lads. They keep you
admire that. I am an old fashioned
hard and get out of that place.’ going. They know when to make
winger and so is he’.
Downing has read the autobiographies you work harder and when you are
Giggs, of course, has never had the of Paul Gascoigne and Brian down.’
chance to showcase his skills on the
Clough — both made a deep
Downing’s second operation in
World Cup stage. Whether Downing
impression on him. Neither was September was on the side of his left
makes it to Germany next summer
short of self-belief when it came to knee. He is now jogging in the swimming
remains to be seen, but his potential to
football and nor is Downing. He pool and hopes to begin light
excite some of football’s most astute
says adamantly: ‘I still have running in two weeks time. His aim is
judges is not in doubt.
time on my side and to return for the Tyne Tees derby on
He had a trial at Old Trafford when he
hopefully I can be the January 2 and then force his way into
was 14 and Sir Alex Ferguson has
surprise one in the Eriksson’s final squad for football’s
maintained the interest. Tottenham
squad. I haven’t booked finest showcase.
boss Martin Jol failed with a £7million
holidays and I’d like to think I will be
‘I want to be back for the Newcastle
bid last summer.
spending next summer at the World game at the start of January so I will
‘I had only just got in the team when
Cup.’