MALCOM CHRISTIE last night spoke of his disbelief that Stewart Downing was given only half an hour to prove his international credentials.

Downing and fellow debutant Andrew Johnson had been expected to be given the second period at least in the dour friendly draw with Holland on Wednesday night.

Instead the pair had to make do with cameo appearances when they replaced Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Rooney just after the hour mark.

Downing has since insisted he was happy to earn his first cap no matter how it arrived, but Boro team-mate Christie felt the 20-year-old was hard done by.

"How are people going to see how good Stewart is when he comes on like that?" said Christie.

"We know how good Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham are, but it's the blokes who have just been called into the squad that we don't know about.

"Mr Eriksson said it was fantastic for the new boys just to get on the pitch, but if they are good enough to be in the squad then why not give them an opportunity to really show what they can do?

"I'm really delighted for Stewart. He has worked really hard and deserved his chance. I was screaming at the TV for him to get on but he didn't get what he deserved."

Christie was even more shocked by the decision made by Eriksson to play prolific striker Johnson - who is the Premiership's leading English scorer this season - out of position on the Crystal Palace star's first appearance for his country.

He said: "I know if I'd been called up I would have been disappointed - particularly if I was Andy Johnson and I had been asked to play on the right wing. That would have been just a fantastic first cap, wouldn't it?"

Christie has just returned from a 15-month lay-off after breaking his leg twice and he is now looking forward to latching on to Downing's crosses from the left flank.

"I have seen Stewart's progress since I joined at first hand," said Christie, who already has one goal in two appearances. "He wasn't in the team when I first joined and his progress has been rapid. It was frustrating for me while I was out injured to see some of the balls he was delivering into the box.

"Hopefully there will be a few more chances for England for Stewart because he deserves it."

* Former Boro transfer target Bobo Balde has revealed his fears that Middlesbrough will return to mid-table mediocrity were his reason for turning down a move.

Balde met Boro officials shortly before the closure of the transfer window to discuss a transfer. He completed a medical at the Riverside before suddenly having a change of heart and decided to extend his stay at Celtic.

The Guinean centre-back claimed that Celtic's bigger standing in the game was the major reason why he decided to turn his back on Middlesbrough and a move to the Premiership, where he was also wanted by Birmingham City.

"If I had left to go to Middlesbrough or Birmingham, I would have been moving to a smaller club than Celtic," said Balde, who agreed a new four-and-a-half year contract with the Bhoys last week.

"In that case, it doesn't matter if the league is better. In my mind, I would have still been taking a step down.

"The Premiership is a great league, but you know every season that the same four teams - Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool - will be the ones at the top."