MIDDLESBROUGH wonderkid Stewart Downing has been issued with a warning of how fame can ruin a fledgling football career.

The words of advice have been delivered by a player who knows all about off-the-field distractions and how they can affect a youngster's game.

Boro team-mate Ray Parlour has endured unwanted headlines on more than one occasion, and knows how important it is for a footballer to stay level-headed when his name is linked with the national side.

Downing was again the Teesside hero on Sunday, scoring the equaliser against Portsmouth and generally reinforcing his claims for an England call-up.

But according to the player nicknamed the Romford Pele, too much too young can 'kill' a player's career.

"He's only a young boy. You can't put everything in the limelight - sometimes it can kill players," said Parlour, who had ten caps for his country.

"He's a quiet lad, he loves football and sometimes you have to hold back a little bit and wait for the right time to put him in there.

"At the moment we're pleased he's not with England because he's doing more for Boro.

"It's nice people are speaking about him and saying that he can go a long way.

"At 20 he's got a long time in front of him but he needs to improve a little bit. He can be more consistent but in all he's a very good player and a great prospect for England.

"At the moment Boro are just pleased he's playing in Boro's team and maybe not got that distraction of England."

Downing could do worse than heed the advice of a footballer who was a regular name in good friend Tony Adams' autobiography Addicted.

In the book Parlour was linked with an incident in an Essex branch of Pizza Hut when a fire extinguisher was discharged, and on an Arsenal tour of Hong Kong in the mid 1990s he had a much-publicised disagreement with a taxi driver.

Despite his off-the-field excesses and the effects of a much-publicised recent court case, where his wide Karen was awarded a third of his future earnings, Parlour has proved he still has what it takes to cut it in the Premiership.

He has impressed both team-mates and manager, and the 31-year-old appears more than willing to take on an advisory role to the youngsters.

Parlour believes there is no need to rush Downing into the England senior side, believing he has plenty of time to learn his trade with the Under-21s.

Parlour said: "Steve McClaren knows the ins and outs (at England) and he sees him in training every day.

"I'm sure he'll say to him he can do a good job or it might be a bit too early for him.

"It's a big season for him and if he does very well this season then maybe next season he'll be right.

"He's a good talent for Middlesbrough and England and I'm sure we'll nurture him well.

"He's still got a lot to learn and he's only a young boy but I'm sure he'll go a long way for this club and for England.

"I'm sure scouts from England are looking at him now because that left side has always been a problem.

"I'm sure he could do a good job for England there but he's got to establish himself in the Under 21s first as everybody does.

"When I came through the England set-up I played 14 games for the Under 21s. I got established in that then you get your chance.

"I'm sure that the manager will, at the right time, put him in the squad even for training to see what qualities he's got.

"He has got qualities and I'm sure he wouldn't let England down."

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