MIDDLESBROUGH footballer Stewart Downing has revealed his sadness about the young sister who did not live to see him play in the World Cup.

The 21-year-old left-winger is one of the young talents selected as part of the England squad to compete in next month's tournament in Germany.

Speaking in a newspaper interview, he said his sister, Vicki, was only four when she lost her two-year battle against a stomach tumour.

Downing said: "I was young and did not really know what was going on, but it was tough for mum and dad."

He said his parents still talked about Vicki and that he and his older sister, Natalie, remember her.

However, his youngster sisters -nine-month-old Amelia and Hayley, 13 -never knew her.

Downing said in the interview with a Sunday newspaper: "Hayley asks about her all the time and Vicki looked exactly like them both.

"We have loads of pictures of Vicki around the house, but most people think they are of Hayley. We tell them what happened and, of course, we will never forget her."

Vicki received treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, and Downing said he had helped raise money for its work by giving donations and signed shirts.

He said of his sister's death: "It makes you appreciate being fit and healthy. It must be so tough for kids who can't do the things you can do."

At one time, it looked like he would not be available to play in the World Cup.

A leg injury meant he missed several months of the season, but he has made a good recovery and his recent form persuaded England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson to select him for Germany.

His career began when, having played schoolboy football on Teesside, he was spotted by Middlesbrough and signed up.

He is now one of the hottest properties in English football, and said of his World Cup call-up: "I can barely believe it, I had to keep check checking the TV, and even then I thought there was a mistake, but I can't wait to get out there."

l See The Northern Echo next Monday for your free 32-page World Cup supp-lement