CONSIDERING Michael Owen's injury problems, Stewart Downing feels fortunate to have only suffered from tiredness this season.

And now the Middlesbrough winger is eager to help his international colleague make up for lost time.

The pair have not been involved together since Downing replaced the Newcastle United striker in the second half of the last summer's world Cup Group B opener against Paraguay.

Two matches later and Owen, in the 2-2 draw with Sweden, suffered the serious knee ligament injury which ruled him out of all but three of the Magpies' Premiership fixtures this season.

Despite his lack of club football, the 27-year-old is likely to line up for England B tomorrow night at Turf Moor, ahead of next month's vital European Championships qualifier in Estonia.

Downing admits that the return of Owen to the international fold has arrived at the right time.

The Boro winger, knowing that Gareth Barry or Kieron Dyer could be pushing him for a starting place on the left against Albania tomorrow, is relishing the opportunity to provide Owen with the service all strikers crave.

"It's been an absolute nightmare for Michael this last year or two and it looked as if it wasn't going to get any better when he had to be stretchered off at Watford in Newcastle's last game of the season," said Downing.

"But Michael is someone both Newcastle and England need. He is like Mark Viduka is to us at Middlesbrough, he guarantees goals ands we need him playing for England.

"Ideally I will be out there providing Michael with the crosses that will help him score, I know he will get goals at whatever level he plays at because he is top class.

"We have a big game with Brazil coming up and then we need to beat Estonia, so hopefully we can get Michael in full flow. It's a huge couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to the rest afterwards because it has been a long season."

Owen has made just 14 appearances in two years for Newcastle; Downing has played 76 times in 18 months, 49 since the World Cup.

Such has been his hectic schedule, the 22-year-old could be forgiven for wanting a well earned rest. He has, however, emerged through his strained phase and wants to be involved for his country.

" I don't know how the B game will shape up or what effect that will have on the other games," said Downing. "All I know is that I'm in a fresh stage at the moment.

"I had a dip in form around Christmas time when I could have done with a rest but I'm only young and that happens. You can suffer from burn out and I had played consecutively for months.

"I played all of last season, I then went to the World Cup and then I had to perform week in and week out this season. I hit a bit of a low around the New Year but I am just starting to get my form back - it would come now at the end of the season!"

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed he is in talks with Titus Bramble and Mark Viduka over taking the pair to Fratton Park.

Redknapp has already snapped up Sylvain Distin, who fired a parting shot at Manchester City's lack of ambition after Portsmouth's reported £40,000-a-week offer saw off a late bid by Liverpool to take him to Anfield.

The French centre-back closed the door on a five-year career at City to sign a three-year deal at Pompey on a free transfer yesterday. And the 6ft 4ins defender said: ''After five years at City it was a tough choice to leave.

''But when I thought it was time for me to go I didn't think they really tried (to keep me).

''In five years I've seen a lot of good players coming and then going.