GARETH SOUTHGATE hailed Stewart Downing's contribution to the Middlesbrough cause this season as 'first class' but admitted they have relied on him too much.

It was thought Downing was only going to play a peripheral role in the Teessider's Premiership campaign this term after several high profile signings last summer, but he is now on the threshold of his first international cap.

The 20-year-old's absence from Peter Taylor's under 21 squad, suggests SvenGoran Eriksson will tonight name the midfielder in his 22 to face Holland on Wednesday.

Southgate believes it will be an enormous honour for not only Downing but to the club and the town if he wins his first cap.

"It's the pinnacle for anyone, and to get it at such a young age, if it happens, would be magnificent," said the 34-year-old.

"In terms of the club, it would be a great feather in the cap of the academy because it's fantastic for the town to produce a player, Middlesbrough born and bred, to go into the full England set-up."

The Boro skipper says despite all the distractions, plaudits and talk of an international call up, his young team mate has managed to remain focused on and off the field.

"You can see that though his consistency," said Southgate. "I feel sometimes we've relied on him, too much, as a youngster coming into the side.

"But he's been crucial in so many of our matches either scoring or providing goals that have got us results. But generally speaking he has been fantastic for us and his attitude has been first class.

"He has not been stood on the wing waiting for the ball, he has put a shift in to help the team and that is what we need, especially when things are not going well for us."

Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink (flu) and Colin Cooper (leg) have been added to Boro's crippling injury list, and with boss Steve McClaren unable to bring in any new players during the transfer window, he looks set to turn to his youngsters for Blackburn's visit to the Riverside this afternoon.

Southgate reckons Boro's injury crisis provides a perfect opportunity for the club's youngsters to stake a first team place, in the way Downing already has.

Of course it is not the first time the Teessiders have had to rely on their young starlets and the Boro skipper hailed how they have adapted when thrown in at the deep end.

"I think it is very difficult when you finish playing for the youth team," he added.

"There is a period in a young professional's career where you usually spend a couple of years involved with the reserves.

"But the reserves is an ever changing side. You have players coming back from injury and first team players who don't want to be there, and youngsters trying to make their way in the game.

"So you don't feel as if you're part of a consistent team the way you do when you're in the youth team or the first team.

"It means they haven't drifted through this year and they've had first team experience earlier than they thought they were going to have and they've all dealt with it fantastically well. There isn't one of the youngsters who has come into the side, where you can say, he hasn't done the job or can play at this level."

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