STEWART Downing last night admitted that his call-up to the England World Cup squad was beyond his "wildest dreams".

The Middlesbrough midfielder, for so long touted as the answer to England's perennial left-sided problem, was a surprise inclusion in the 23-man squad named by Sven-Goran Eriksson yesterday.

Downing's chances of making this summer's tournament in Germany looked to have gone when he missed the first half of the season with a knee injury originally sustained during last summer's international tour of America.

After returning to action in late January, the 21-year-old struggled to rediscover the form that had won him his one senior international cap in a goalless draw with Holland last February.

However, he has peaked at the right time with last month's match-winning performance against Steaua Bucharest helping to secure Middlesbrough's place in tomorrow night's UEFA Cup final against Sevilla.

That display also caught the eye of Eriksson, with the Swede eschewing his usual early getaway to ensure he caught every second of the wing wizardy that enabled Downing to inspire one of the greatest comebacks in North-East football history.

Boro's 4-2 win over Steaua was previously the youngster's most cherished memory in the game. If things go to plan in Germany this summer, he could be about to write an even more thrilling chapter in his personal story of success.

"Obviously I was absolutely elated when I heard I was in the squad," said Downing, who could yet find himself in England's starting XI if Eriksson chooses to use Joe Cole in a roving striker's role.

"I thought I might have a chance of getting in the 27-man provisional squad, but it's even better than that.

"It's beyond my wildest dreams really - playing in a World Cup is something I've dreamed about since I was a boy.

"We have a huge game coming up in Eindhoven on Wednesday and I need to focus on that.

"But once that's out of the way, I can start concentrating on the summer and going to the World Cup."

If Downing gets on to the field in Germany this summer, he will become the first Teessider to make a World Cup appearance for England while a Middlesbrough player since Alan Peacock achieved the feat in 1962.

As a product of the club's much-vaunted Academy, the youngster will be flying the flag for Boro when he teams up with the rest of the squad at a training camp in Portugal next week.

And while the whole of Teesside will take great pleasure in his achievements, his family have an extra-special reason to be proud.

"We are over the moon for him," said his father, also called Stewart. "We found out on Sunday night, but we couldn't celebrate until it was officially confirmed.

"I think it is a tremendous achievement for him to be going to the World Cup. He will have a perfect opportunity to shine tomorrow night in the UEFA Cup final.

"He has got a really exciting time ahead of him and he has worked so hard to achieve it - we are all so proud of him."

* Boro midfielder George Boateng was also celebrating after he beat Edgar Davids to a place in Holland boss Marco van Basten's provisional 28-man squad.

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