MIDDLESBROUGH'S successful academy will continue to produce international footballers, even when the new Elite Player Performance Plan is introduced, according to England Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce.

Since the vote was cast to change the face of the academy system last month, debate has raged as to what the new directive will mean to clubs across the country.

One of the most crucial changes is that the 90-minute travelling time restriction (an hour for Under-12s) will be scrapped in favour of a more open network in a category system.

That would open the door for the English league's richest clubs to come in and try to tempt footballers in this area away from joining a North-East club instead.

Since the current academy system was introduced in 1998, Middlesbrough have produced the likes of Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson and James Morrison, while Joe Bennett and Jason Steele are part of the Under-21s plans.

But Pearce does not see any reason why Middlesbrough, under the academy leadership of Dave Parnaby, should not continue to produce players capable of progressing on to the international stage.

"I still think they will shine through," said Pearce. "You will see the academies who have a consistency of staffing, a good structure, good coaches, producing.

"The one thing with Middlesbrough is that they can look a young player in the eye and say ‘you will get an opportunity to play in our first team if you are good enough'.

"Middlesbrough can name a countless number of names to say they have gone on and done that and played at international level. That's the biggest recommendation you can give."

Pearce was at Rockliffe Park yesterday to officially confirm his Under-21s will be playing at the Riverside Stadium in the new year, as revealed in The Northern Echo's The Insider column 13 days ago.

England's youngsters will face Belgium, kick-off 6pm, on Wednesday, February 29, in the European Under-21 Championship qualifier, with Steele and Bennett likely to figure on their home turf.

"We have had a lot of players who have come through to the Under-21s and below from Middlesbrough," said Pearce. "It gives the local community some real connection if they know some of the players in there."

Bennett has risen to prominence in the last 13 months, graduating to the squad after impressing at left-back following the appointment of Tony Mowbray.

The 21-year-old has been in and out of Pearce's squads and the England boss has told the youngster to focus on his talent and learn how to link better with his team-mates.

"Joe is fortunate he has a manager in Tony who has so much enthusiasm for the game," said Pearce. "Young players are fantastically well supported, it's just down to them to be critical all of the time with themselves.

"He is playing regular first team football. I still think there is a way to go - as a man as well. He needs to establish himself in the Under-21s, it's there for him to take if he wants it. Where that talent will take him will depend on him.

"Joe must work out how he can fit in his talent in to his team's performance. My target if I was Joe would be to play every game this year, get Middlesbrough in to the Premier League and then he will be a left-back in the Premier League. It's all in front of him."

Pearce was also keen to stress that Sunderland's Connor Wickham and Newcastle's Sammy Ameobi have to show a similar attitude towards progressing in the game.

Both have appeared in the Premier League this season and Pearce believes that, with the right advice, they can become success stories from St James' Park and Stadium of Light.

He said: "All young players need to develop by playing games. I will do everything I can to let them develop in their own time.

"I have no doubt Connor will grow in to a top Premier League striker, but time will tell. He has all the tools, he cost a lot of money, he has a Euro Under-17s winner's medal. There's not many of those around."

As for Ameobi, England could face longer term competition for his services from Nigeria, who yesterday got the go-ahead to hand his brother, Shola, his first cap.

"Sammy has a fantastic role model in his brother," said Pearce. "Sammy is playing for the better nation, in my eyes. I have to make sure when Sammy comes up that he enjoys it. Then we have to make sure he continues to develop and enjoys it and wants to continue to play for England."

* Tickets for England Under-21s' date with Belgium at the Riverside are priced £10 for adults and £5 for children. They go on sale from Tuesday, November 29, by calling 0844 499 1234 or from the club.