MIDDLESBROUGH are pinning their hopes on Stewart Downing returning to full fitness before the end of the year, after accepting the England winger could still be at the Riverside Stadium in January.

A week after surgery on the foot he fractured in the final home game of the season against Aston Villa, Downing is privately confident he will make a full recovery.

But even with optimism high, the England winger is unlikely to be back in action before December.

With at least £12m expected from the sale of Downing, Southgate will now have to look elsewhere to raise the cash to invest in his squad.

“We need a squad that is better than every other one in the Championship,” said chairman Steve Gibson.

“There are some players who will leave the club, that’s natural. We have to bring together a squad. We are looking at every area and it all needs rethinking. We have a plan and we start that plan now.”

Tuncay Sanli, pictured right, and Gary O’Neil are two players who should rake in a combined total of around £12m if sold, which would certainly help ease the huge financial hit that comes with relegation from the Premier League.

But a danger of being unable to cash in on Downing, who will also have to rebuild his general fitness levels as he is expected to miss an entire pre-season, is likely to mean that offers will have to be listened to for other players.

While Gibson and Southgate insist that centre-back David Wheater will not be sold, the possibility of Adam Johnson moving on remains strong, with Downing’s injury increasing the chances of clubs coming in for his understudy.

Johnson, part of the England Under-21s squad for this summer’s European Championships, is understood to have turned down an offer to renew his deal that is due to expire at the end of next season.

He has previously been linked with Real Madrid – which came as a surprise to the player – while Tottenham have a longstanding interest in him.

But there have also been suggestions in recent days that there is a long line of Premier League clubs whose interest has grown.

Should Johnson perform well for his country in Sweden in June, that interest is only likely to increase further, with Chelsea among those said to be keeping an eye on the player.

While Middlesbrough may be prepared to cash in on Johnson if the price is right – with £7m previously talked about – there is a determination to retain the services of Wheater.

S o u t h g a t e wants to build his defence around him next season and was heartened when the centre-back said he was willing to hang around in the Championship.

“I’m absolutely delighted that David has publicly stated his commitment to the club for next season,”

said Southgate.

“For a young player who has already been involved in the England squad to be so readily prepared to stay on and lead our fight to regain our Premier League status is a great message for the rest of the squad.

“Like all of us he would rather be in the Premier League, but it’s good to know he’s ready and willing to drop down to the Championship and help us bounce back.”

■ Boro fans will have the chance to buy a new range of adidas training kit from 9.30am on Monday, June 1.

Boro have a four-year partnership with the global sportswear giants who in July will unveil the 2009-10 home kit, with a new change strip to follow at a later date.

■ Roman Abramovich is prepared to splash out on a bigmoney signing this summer, according to Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck.

With a new manager to be installed, Buck does not expect wholesale changes in the playing staff, but he revealed owner Abramovich is prepared to open his chequebook, should the right man become available.

The chairman said: ‘‘We expect three or four players to leave and three or four players to come in.

‘‘We would like to fund those purchases with the transfer fees we receive but if the right player comes along, even if he’s an expensive player, Roman is willing to do that if it makes sense for Chelsea Football Club.”