Downing raises sights

10:17am Friday 21st November 2008

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STEWART DOWNING has acknowledged the vital role Fabio Capello has played in transforming his own fortunes in the England team, but the left-winger is determined to keep producing for Middlesbrough.

Downing waited until his 21st cap for his country to turn in his ‘best display’ to help England to a memorable 2-1 victory over Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

While many feared the 24- year-old’s chance at international level had gone in the wake of his below-par performance – along with the rest of the team – in the September World Cup qualifier against Andorra, he proved his doubters wrong.

Downing would be the first to admit his own form took a dive in the weeks following the marginal win over Andorra in Barcelona, but there have been glimpses of a return to his peak at club level.

In Germany, with many of Capello’s regulars missing, the winger produced the sort of display the Riverside faithful have come to expect, leaving the player intent on keeping up his good work.

“I have to keep going, I don’t just want to be in the squad, I want to play,” said Downing, whose deliveries from set-pieces led to both Matthew Upson and John Terry’s goals. “If I keep playing well, then, hopefully, the manager will keep playing me. I haven’t always been given the chance at international level, but Fabio has given me more of an opportunity.

“Before it was more of a settled team. Fabio came in and everyone’s had a fresh start.

He asks players to play with confidence and he’s certainly given me that.

“That was probably my best performance and I want to carry that on and play in the qualifiers as well.

“If you do well under Fabio, you have the confidence he will stick with you. That’s how I feel. It’s not all about names or whatever, it’s about performances. If you are not playing well for your club, then you won’t be picked.”

With England not due to play again until the friendly with Slovakia at Wembley on March 28, Downing knows he has to deliver in the Premier League if he is to stand a chance of keeping his place.

The general consensus is, when everyone if fit, that Joe Cole will line up on the left flank for the qualifiers, with the visit of the Ukraine on April 1 next on the World Cup agenda.

Downing, however, disagrees.

He said: “I don’t think the left side is nailed down by anybody. Joe was obviously missing, but he’s a quality player and Ashley Young has come in and done well.

“There’s Steven Gerrard, who has played on the left as well, but I’m hoping Fabio keeps giving me a chance and that I can prove I’m worth the place on the left. I’m sure the other lads think that as well.”

After witnessing Downing turn on the style for his country, David Wheater has outlined a determination to force his way back into England reckoning by making the most of his chance at Boro.

Wheater was a frustrated observer on Wednesday after he was overlooked. Despite being called into the England fold for the last World Cup qualifier in Belarus at the 11th hour, Wheater was left out of this week’s party to make way for Chelsea’s less experienced Michael Mancienne.

But with Chris Riggott almost certainly out of tomorrow’s visit of Bolton with a hamstring injury, Wheater feels ready to make the most of an opportunity to establish himself back in the back four again.

“I haven’t been playing for Middlesbrough so he’s (Capello) not going to pick me if I’m not playing,” said Wheater.

“Riggott and Pogatetz have been playing really well so I haven’t been in the team.

Maybe now I can force my way back into the thoughts of both managers. Riggott is injured now. It’s unfortunate for him, but hopefully I will be back.”

After being rested by Austria in the midweek defeat to a Tuncay Sanli-inspired Turkey, Emmanuel Pogatetz is in line to figure against Bolton, despite medial knee ligament trouble.