STEWART Downing boarded a plane to Germany yesterday and, with the start of the World Cup now less than four months away, the Middlesbrough midfielder is hoping a lengthy UEFA Cup run will enable him to make an identical journey this summer.

Despite winning his one and only international cap in last February's goalless draw with Holland, Downing is one of the few players harbouring a realistic ambition of gatecrashing Sven Goran Eriksson's squad.

The 21-year-old, who has battled back from two serious knee problems this season, made his eagerly-awaited return to the first team in last month's 3-2 defeat to Wigan. While he accepts he still needs another couple of weeks to regain his fitness, his eye-catching display in last weekend's 3-0 humbling of Chelsea suggested he is almost back to his best.

Last season, his best was good enough to catch Eriksson's eye and, with the Swede yet to finalise his World Cup plans, there is still time for Downing to force his way into the picture.

Scoring against the champions undoubtedly helped but, as Boro prepare to face Stuttgart in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup this evening, Downing has admitted that a successful European campaign could hold the key to his international ambitions.

"Sven has said he wants all of his players playing at the highest level possible and, if you're not in the Champions League, that means the UEFA Cup because it's the next step down," said Downing, who played in eight of Boro's ten UEFA Cup games last season.

"Being in Europe has benefited me as a player. It's a different style of football and a different experience, which can only improve you. It's a different kind of test.

"I can only hope that the same applies as the last time I got into the squad - doing well for my club and doing well as a team will mean I get noticed.

"The manager also has a role with England and I suppose that can only help but, first and foremost, it is down to me as a player. If he can put a word in for me, that would be great. But it's more about turning it on when Sven is watching."

Eriksson has stated that at least two places in his squad remain up for grabs and, given his side's paucity of left-footed options, at least one of those is certain to relate to the troublesome left-midfield spot.

Chelsea's Joe Cole has filled the position in England's most recent internationals but he has rarely looked comfortable in the role and his opponents have benefited from his constant desire to cut infield on to his favoured right foot.

As an out-and-out winger, Downing offers a completely different option and the ease with which he overshadowed both Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips last weekend will not have gone unnoticed by Eriksson.

"That left-wing position is probably the best opportunity of anybody getting into the squad," agreed Downing. "But I don't think Joe Cole will be thinking that at the minute.

"There is a lot of expectation on that position, but Joe is there at the moment and he is a very good passer of the ball. He's the first choice, and I'm sure Kieron Richardson has been eyeing that position as well. I just have to keep playing and doing my best and hope that's good enough."

Downing's lack of experience would make his selection a gamble. As well as winning just one full cap, the youngster has also enjoyed just one full season at Premiership level.

Last year's injuries prevented him getting more top-flight appearances under his belt but the Teessider has cited one of England's established internationals as proof that age and inexperience need not be a barrier to success.

"It would be absolutely massive for a lad of my age to go to the World Cup," said Downing.

"It would be brilliant, and I don't really think I'm too young.

"Look at Wayne Rooney. He's two years younger than me but he did brilliantly at the European Championships, so I don't see why my age should be a problem. I will be a lot older than he is when the World Cup starts."

Before that, though, Downing will be concentrating on improving Middlesbrough's league position and maintaining their progress in both the UEFA and FA Cups. After suffering a setback in his recovery last autumn, he had feared he might be sidelined for the rest of the season. The experience forced him to mature as a person and, with Boro's Academy continuing to produce a seemingly endless supply of teenage talent, he is now finding himself acting as an agony uncle to the club's newest first-team recruits.

"Last season I was classed as one of the youngsters at Boro because it was my first full season," he explained. "But there are so many young kids coming through now that I feel like a bit of an old man.

"That's all credit to the Academy staff. It's very good for the future of the club and should stand us in good stead for many years to come.

"The younger lads have started to come to me for advice and that's nice. I've been there myself and, if I can pass anything worthwhile on to them, I want to do that."

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