This just in from F365: ‘Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has claimed England winger Stewart Downing does not realise how good a player he can be.’
No, but all self-respecting football fans know exactly how good he can be: not very good at all.
Downing will never be world-class – he doesn’t have the mental strength, nor the requisite football brain. He’s 23 now, and should be reaching his peak, and yet he still comes across like a callow 18 year old.
Steve McClaren gave Downing plenty of chances to impress in an England shirt, but he never did. I’m prepared to give him a chance under Capello, but I’m not sure the Italian would touch him with a 20ft bargepole.