Boro to rest Downing as tiredness takes its toll

The Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is to be given a rest by his manager, Steve McClaren, to ensure that he can get through the rest of the season.

The Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is to be given a rest by his manager, Steve McClaren, to ensure that he can get through the rest of the season.

Downing has not missed a match since cementing his place in the first team in October, but during Saturday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace the 20-year-old openly concedes that his legs went.

Downing has been a revelation this season for Boro, with his performances coming to the attention of the England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, who has selected the player in the last two squads. But the youngster admits he is now close to exhaustion as the campaign draws to a close, leading to McClaren offering the youngster a well-earned rest following this Saturday's home match against Arsenal.

"I think everybody could see that my legs had gone at Crystal Palace," said Downing. "But I'll do what's right in training and I'll be ready for Arsenal at the weekend. We've not got a game for a week and a half after that so I'm being allowed a few days' break to get away."

Middlesbrough have suffered a string of injuries, which has meant that Downing - along with others - has not been given the break he needed, resulting in tiredness and loss of form.

"When I look back it's been a marvellous season for me, but you can't play twice a week every week and always produce your best. It's impossible," Downing added. "I think it's been hard on the whole squad here because of the injuries. The gaffer would have loved to have rested players from time to time but a lot of the lads have had to play in every game."

Yet despite suffering from fatigue, Downing has one eye on England's summer tour to the United States during which he is hoping to play more of a part than in the recent World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan when he failed to get on.

"I want to stay part of the England set-up so it was great to be called up again," said Downing said. "I thought I might have taken part in one of the games but it didn't happen. But I know I have to wait for my chance. Hopefully, I'll get called up to go to the States."

Franck Queudrue's hopes of playing for the Republic of Ireland have been dashed as a result of the Middlesbrough defender making a mistake over his claims of Irish ancestry.

Although born in Paris and with a France B cap to his name, Queudrue last week made it clear that he would consider wearing the green of the Republic.

The 26-year-old claimed an Irish grandfather helped him qualify for Brian Kerr's side, currently vying with France for a place in next summer's World Cup in Group Four of the European qualifying section.

A disappointed Queudrue, however, said: "Unfortunately I am one generation out. I am very proud of my Irish ancestry, but it's my great grandfather who was from Ireland and that's not enough for me to play."

Boro's injury problems show no sign of easing as Boudewijn Zenden will miss at least the next three matches after scans yesterday revealed ankle ligament damage sustained at Selhurst Park.

The Middlesbrough striker Joseph-Desire Job will today undergo surgery on a knee injury which he sustained on international duty with Cameroon.