TONY MOWBRAY has admitted he would like Stewart Downing to strengthen Middlesbrough's promotion push in the new year, but fears strong competition if Liverpool do make the winger available.

Downing was part of the Reds squad that faced Young Boys in the Europa League last night after the window for Football League clubs to make emergency loan signings closed.

Now all eyes will be on January, when Middlesbrough could make a formal approach to take the player on loan if they remain in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League.

In the mean time Downing has a chance to prove he can still succeed at Anfield, where he moved for £20m in the summer of last year. Other top-flight clubs also have an opportunity to put a package together to compete for the £10m-rated player's signature.

The 28-year-old's reputed £80,000-a-week contract at Liverpool is an obvious hurdle to overcome and other Premier League clubs would find it far easier to offer a suitable financial package than Middlesbrough.

Mowbray said: "I don't want to talk about him (Downing), he's a Liverpool player. The bottom line is, half the Premier League would probably like to buy him if he becomes available.

"He is an international footballer, we are Middlesbrough in the Championship, who have been selling players for the last two years. We have reduced the wage bill from £27m down to £12m, £15m off it, gone. That's where we are.

"And if I was a Premier League manager why wouldn't I want Stewart Downing? Half the league would want him."

Middlesbrough sit third in the Championship, two points adrift of the second automatic promotion place and four points shy of league leaders Crystal Palace after 17 matches before tomorrow's visit of Bristol City.

If Boro can stay in and around the top two in the next six weeks then they are likely to test Liverpool's stance in the hope of boosting the final five months of the campaign with the winger's arrival.

Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool boss, is thought to have made up his mind and is willing to let the England international go. But with Everton and Sunderland among those interested, Middlesbrough will face a tough fight to convince the Anfield board to let him return to hometown club Middlesbrough.

Injuries to George Friend, who had a scan last night on his hamstring tear, Jonathan Woodgate, Stuart Parnaby and Rhys Williams meant yesterday's deadline day for loans was spent looking for a short-term defensive addition instead. The fact nothing materialised did not concern the Middlesbrough manager.

"I had one or two conversations because I do feel slightly vulnerable defensively," said Mowbray. "With one or two more injuries we will be going right in to our squad. We have Friend, Woodgate, Parnaby, Williams - all defensive players - out injured so I made some calls.

"But I am hopeful all of those players will be back in action in a week or so, so why spend a lot over the next few weeks? I wouldn't spend on another centre-half at the minute for them to sit on the bench.

"I've made the calls, but there was no great rush. There's every chance we will stick with our squad and if I have to use Nicky Bailey as a centre-half then I will, that's fine."

Friend's situation has been the most concerning this week. The left-back was forced off during last Saturday's defeat at Cardiff City and he will hear the results of a scan this morning.

Mowbray's initial assessment was that the defender could be missing for four to six weeks, but there are hopes he will only miss the visits of Bristol City and Huddersfield and next Friday's trip to Birmingham City.

The situation is similar to midfielder Faris Haroun, who also had a scan last night on the calf injury sustained in South Wales earlier in the game.

"George has a smile as if it's not too bad, hopefully he's right," said Mowbray. "Hopefully they are both grade one tears and let's hope they will be back after a week, which would mean they miss the next three, but that's about it."