The Riverside outfit have 19 internationals on their books, from under-16s to the senior side - quite a number, as our photo above proves.

Academy director David Parnaby, father of Stuart, said "We have 13 academy players who have made the first team.

"All but one, the Australian Brad Jones, hail from within 20 miles of the Riverside. Boro now boast 19 England internationals at all levels, more than Manchester United, the traditional front-runners.

"When Steve McClaren came here from United, the first thing he said to me was: 'Can we grow our own trees? Steve's experience at United was a big eye-opener. He saw what youth development could do to a club and he wants us to go that way.

"We are now seeing the blossoming of the team who won the FA Youth Cup in 2004."

Middlesbrough are certainly flying the flag, both for club and country, and a handful of the club's internationals will be on duty tonight.

Stuart Downing and Stuart Parnaby, a full and Under-21 international respectively, are expected to line up against Basle in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

While on home soil, England Under-17 captain Josh Walker (pictured) will lead his side's quest for European Championship qualification against Bulgaria, while club-mate Nathan Porritt should also feature.

Here are those Boro stars in the photo: (Top row) Matthew Bates, Jason Steele, Ross Turnbull, David Knight, David Wheater. Middle row: James Morrison, Anthony McMahon, Stewart Downing, Stuart Parnaby, Danny Graham, Andrew Davies. Bottom row, Jonathan Franks, Andrew Taylor, Adam Johnson, Gary Liddle, Lee Cattermole, Nathan Porritt. Missing from photo: Josh Walker and Seb Hines.