Gareth Southgate is hopeful Stewart Downing's decision to commit his future to Middlesbrough will help him attract new signings and keep his most promising youngsters.

The Boro boss was a happy man on Friday when his 23-year-old England winger agreed a new five-year deal after persistent speculation his days on Teesside could be coming to an end.

Downing's decision came only weeks after Brazilian striker Afonso Alves became the club's record signing and helped spark a fresh wave of optimism with relegation fears giving way to dreams of FA Cup glory.

Southgate, for one, will not allow himself to be carried away, but is happy progress is being made both on and off the pitch.

He believes Alves' capture did Boro little harm in persuading Downing to sign on the dotted line, and in turn, he is confident that will have a knock-on effect.

Southgate said: "Players that you are looking to bring to the club will look at players like Stewart Downing and feel he is a player they would want to come and play with.

"And within our own dressing room, it is important players realise they can stay here and be looked after here.

"Stewart has probably signed four or five contracts in his time here, and it is important we are seen to be looking after our own young players in the right way, and that we are able to keep hold of them if it is something we as a club want to do."

Talks are currently under way with just such a player, with 21-year-old defender David Wheater now the man in the frame.

The Redcar-born youngster has been a revelation at first-team level this season - indeed, his emergence is part of the reason the club were prepared to sell Jonathan Woodgate to Tottenham.

Southgate and chief executive Keith Lamb have held discussions with the player, his parents and his advisors, and further talks are expected this week with the early signs promising.

Southgate said: "To be honest, with David, I have been very impressed by his family, and that's a credit to the upbringing they have given him.

"We take them on board at 15, 16, but the people who really are most important in any player's development are his parents at the beginning.

"They set the tone for all of us on the long road ahead of us. His father's attitude to everything I found really refreshing and I enjoyed conversations with him.

"I am very hopeful we can get an agreement with David and his family and his advisors and we can help to improve him further as a player. The long and short of it is David wants to stay and his dad's attitude to keeping him hungry was very refreshing.

"It is a deal we want to do and, like Stewart Downing, if we can get it wrapped up, it will be an important one for us as a club."

Wheater will be available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool, but will miss the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Sheffield United through suspension.

The winners will host Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff - and former Boro striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - in the quarter-finals, but Southgate is refusing to take anything for granted.

He said: "In the FA Cup, anything can happen. We know Sheffield United have got some players with Premier League experience and any team on the day can hurt you.

"They were everything we expected at Bramall Lane and they will still feel it is an opportunity of getting a Premier League scalp."

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