Good news travels fast and that was the case when David Platt chose his England Under-21 squad last week.

“I got a call from a secretary at Middlesbrough on Friday,” explains Downing, Middlesbrough’s hot 19-year-old midfielder.

“Five minutes later my team-mate Andrew Davies rang to say he’d been selected, so we were able to swap our good news.

“We’ve ended up rooming together, which is good because it helps you settle into the squad.”

This has been a breakthrough season for Downing. A loan spell at Sunderland gave him regular first-team football and since returning to the Riverside he has featured in 19 games, starting the 3-2 win at Manchester United last week to boost his chances of a Carling Cup Final place against Bolton.

Having played for England at Under-16, 18 and 19s level, he will make his Under-21 debut against Holland tonight.

As this is the first game in a two-year cycle for the Under-21s, it is almost a completely new squad selected by Platt which means a lot of introductions

“I am one of the quieter ones,” says Downing. “I have played against a lot of the lads at youth teams level. I have played against Darren Ambrose, Michael Chopra, I played against Steven Taylor in The FA Youth Cup.

“I have played against Matt Kilgallon of Leeds a couple of times and met up with him on England duty.”

The left-sided midfielder’s game is based on running at defenders and supplying a steady stream of crosses.

“You can already tell from training that the Under-21s is a step up. It will be harder, playing against better players. It’s going to be good.”

Platt has already said he will give up to seven players their Under-21 debuts against Holland at Hull City’s KC Stadium. Chelsea defender Glen Johnson will captain the team.

Downing’s club manager Steve McClaren is no stranger to international football of course.

“He always makes a point of wishing us well before we go away with England,” says Downing. “He wants us to do well for our sakes and it is a boost for 'Boro as well.”

Downing started out as a forward – “I was probably too small” – and has found his niche playing wide on the left.

He has already set up three Premiership goals this season and has always believed practice makes perfect.

“I always practise shooting and crossing. Even at Primary School, I would be out on the playground playing football before the first bell. When I came home, I would go straight out and play football until about 10 o’clock.

“Our Primary School in Middlesbrough won a national competition, the Reebok Fives. One of my class-mates, Farrell, plays for Halifax.

“Now I have players like Mendieta and Juninho to learn from. We have a lot of good players at 'Boro now.”

Downing was a 12-year-old schoolboy when Middlesbrough went to Wembley for the 1997 FA Cup Final. “I went down as a fan to see them lose to Chelsea,” he recalls.

Now he hopes to be part of the action when 'Boro meet Bolton in the Carling Cup Final.

If 'Boro win, it will be the first trophy in their history. “It’s a really big match,” he says.

“The players are given four complimentary tickets and the option to buy 21 more. I have snapped up all 25 and it’s still not enough for all my family and friends!

“George Boateng was injured for the Manchester United game and so I played on the left and Zenden moved inside. I’m just hoping the manager sticks by the old saying ‘you can’t change a winning team'!"

DID YOU KNOW: Paul Gascoigne made his Middlesbrough debut in the 1998 League Cup Final, which they lost 2-0 to Chelsea

England v Holland Under-21 friendly, Tuesday Feb 17, 8pm kick-off at Hull City FC