England Assistant manager and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is backing England winger Stewart Downing to prove his World Cup credentials to England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, and force his way back into the England squad in time for the World Cup Finals.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been out of action for most of this season with a knee injury, having only played eight matches for Middlesbrough so far, and is slowly regaining his match sharpness after his lay-off, but is hoping to be involved for Middlesbrough’s UEFA Cup match against Stuttgart tonight at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium - one of the venues for this summer's World Cup Finals.

“When you have had a long injury lay-off, first and foremost you have to come back and you have to be right and you have to be playing at the level you were before you got injured,” said Boro boss McClaren.

“That will obviously take a few weeks. I still think he's got a way to go before he's back to his best.

“The second thing he has got to concentrate on is club performances, and making sure his club is doing well.

“He's come into a side that, over the last five or six games, despite the Aston Villa result, has been getting results and has been playing quite well, and has still got a lot to play for in the last third of the season,” said the England assistant manager.

“Long term, if he gets the first two right, he's got a chance of pushing forward into the (England) squad, because he was a part of it last season, if he returns to the form that he was in last season,” finished McClaren.

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