MIDDLESBROUGH prospect Adam Johnson provided manager Steve McClaren with a timely reminder that there is life without Stewart Downing at the Darlington Football Stadium last night.

Johnson turned in a match-winning display for England under-19s in a 3-2 win over their Belgium counterparts.

Watching from the stands, Middlesbrough Academy director David Parnaby will return to McClaren this morning with a favourable report on Johnson.

With England winger Stewart Downing facing three months on the sidelines with a knee injury, Johnson - who made his Boro debut at Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Cup last season - did his first-team prospects no harm.

It took Johnson just six minutes to stamp his authority on proceedings. His teasing left-foot cross was headed home by Huddersfield defender Tom Clarke.

And, after Feyenoord teenager Timothy Derijck drew the visitors level in the 27th minute, Belgium keeper Jonathan Ruttens could only parry Johnson's right-foot shot into the path of Charlton's James Walker, who restored England's lead just before half-time.

James Smith added a third for England in the 52nd minute when his speculative long-range effort slipped through the arms of substitute keeper Davino Verhulst.

Derijck added his second of the evening from the spot in the 76th minute after skipper Gary Roberts upended Jonathan Legear.

But, as Martin Hunter's young lions began preparations for next month's Friendly Tournament in Poland with a morale-boosting win, it was the performance of Johnson, which caught the eye of the 3,123 crowd.

ENGLAND: Alnwick (Hart 46mins), Gilbert, Roberts, Stearman, Golbourne (Parker 76mins), Reid (Dyer 69mins), Clarke (Mancienne 46mins), Smith, Johnson, Walker (Campbell 46mins), Ephraim (Guthrie 58mins) Sub (not used): Grant

BELGIUM: Ruttens (Verhulst 46mins), Van Gijsegem, Jonckheere, Derijck, Pocognoli, Dressen (De Ridder 73mins), Legear, Mirallas (Baetens 83mins), Vermeulen, Moia (Weydisch 46mins), Lacroix (Blancke 73mins) Subs (not used): Renson, Lutun

l Jonathan Woodgate has predicted a glut of Michael Owen goals for Newcastle and England following his Real Madrid exit.

The 25-year-old striker traded in a likely bit-part role in Spain for the expectancy of St James' Park last week, joining Woodgate's former club for £16 million - and the defender expects him to live up to all expectations.

''It is not good for Real Madrid that he has left,'' Woodgate said. ''But there are very good footballers here that can replace him.

''I am sure that he will score many goals for Newcastle and England at the World Cup.

''He knew that he was not going to play much and he had to leave. His transfer will be good for him. Newcastle are a great club, a sleeping giant who are going to wake up.

''Owen will verify that their fans are special and he will certainly enjoy himself.''

Woodgate is working his way back to fitness following a serious thigh injury which forced him to miss all of last season.

But the 25-year-old hopes to do enough to persuade Eriksson to pick him for the World Cup in Germany next year.

''I am anxious to return,'' he said. ''That moment will be comparable to the day of my debut in the Premier League. Hopefully I can play at the World Cup, but there are some very good centre-backs.'