England v Macedonia
UEFA European Championship
Qualifying Group E
5pm, Sat 7 October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester
Stewart Downing dreamt as a young lad about solving England’s left-sided conundrum - and as he prepares to face Macedonia this weekend it looks like his dreams are coming true.
The Middlesbrough winger has done superbly under Steve McClaren, taking advantage of Joe Cole’s injury to become a first team regular.
Cole, of course, was outstanding for the Three Lions last season, scoring a wonder goal against Sweden in the World Cup Finals. And he will provide Downing with intense competition for his place when he finally returns from a knee injury.
But the Middlesbrough man, with his sweet left foot, has shown he can provide McClaren with a different option and that’s a big boost to the squad.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that England fans were wondering where all the left-sided players had gone. But now there is real competition in that position.
"These days I don’t see a left-sided problem," insisted Downing. "Maybe there was in the past and we used different players out of position but now I don’t see it as an issue. Joe has proved he can do it there, you can play me there and Kieran Dyer too.
"It’s true it was different when I was growing up. I remember playing in the Under-17s with Dave Parnaby at Middlesbrough and he said to me ‘that could be you one day’. I laughed to be honest. But the more you get on in football the more you think it can be you."
Perhaps given the lack of left-footed England stars in the 1990s it’s not surprising that Downing’s hero wasn’t an Englishman at all. But no-one could criticise him for his choice of mentor.
He said: "When I was young I admired someone, but he wasn’t English - it was Ryan Giggs. He would probably have been ideal for England. He’s a top player whose been playing for a top club all his career. If you are looking for a winger he’s the best."
If Downing can get anywhere near the levels Giggs has reached during an outstanding career for Manchester United and Wales then England fans are in for a treat. And he certainly seems to have a wonderful attitude to the game.
Despite his quietly-spoken style and lack of glitz there is a steely heart to the Middlesbrough star whose tough up-bringing made him hungry for success.
"Like a lot of players I’ve had a tough up-bringing but I wouldn’t change it for the world," he said. "It’s made me a stronger person and when you get criticism it’s like water off a duck’s back, you just get on with it and ignore it.
"I know Joe Cole will be back soon but I’m not feeling the pressure. I don’t feel nerves or anything, I just go out and play my own game and hopefully that will be enough to stay in the eleven.
"Anyway, I think you’ve got to adapt to different ways of playing. Having me and Joe could be an asset rather than a rivalry. If the games aren’t going well when I’m playing he can always put Joe on and try different things and vice-versa. But I’m confident in my own ability - whoever is in the squad I’m ready for the challenge."
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