Premier League - Injury shrouds Downing future

Eurosport - Wed, 20 May 08:05:00 2009

Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing could have seen his chances of securing a dream summer move scuppered after the foot injury he suffered in the draw against Aston Villa.

2008 Middlesbrough Stewart Downing - 0

The winger sustained the injury in a collision with Stiliyan Petrov and was subsequently stretchered off the pitch, with suggestions from medical experts that a six-month lay off could be on the cards.

Downing has long been linked with a move away from the Riverside, with Tottenham, Everton, Liverpool and Villa among those reportedly interested in a potential £15 million deal for the winger.

Initial scans revealed the worrying extent of the injury, prompting speculation that a possible move could have been jeopardised.

Boro's head of medical Grant Downie told the club's website: "We will not be able to assess the full extent of Stewart's injury until his bruising and swelling goes down."

Boro look destined for the drop as they go into the final match of the season, away to West Ham, second bottom and three points adrift of 17th-placed Hull.

Downing is unlikely to be able to feature in that match, but Downie has not yet ruled the midfielder out.

"We are still waiting for further tests and investigations to find out the best way to manage the problem," he said.

"Stewart has already seen a leading orthopaedic expert in London and is in the best possible hands."

The damage could not have come at a worse time for Boro and for Downing, with the club facing their final Premier League match against West Ham at Upton Park on Sunday, needing a win to have any chance of survival.

Eurosport

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  1. he is overated like but so what a great player for the­ boro and a nice lad get well soon stewy

    From smiley123, on Wed 20 May 10:39PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    liverpool fans must be so happy reading this knowing­ that div rafa wont be signing him now downing was great­ 3 years ago got worse every season since

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Wed 20 May 11:35AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    15 million,what a joke,so overated its­ unbelievable,boro deserve to go down,@#$% manager,­ overated players except tuncay,c ya boro

    From jon g, on Wed 20 May 10:22AM

  4. Good Luck Boro
    Kick out Hull City !!!

    From RaZoR, on Wed 20 May 9:24AM

  5. Boro belong in the championship at best, they may have­ a few good fans, but overall their support is shi te

    From d.papas, on Wed 20 May 8:54AM

  6. Get well soon Stew, you have done a great job at the­ boro mate, but you know as well as everyone else, its­ time to move on.
    Dont care what the boro get for you­ mate, it aint enough.

    From Paul, on Wed 20 May 8:21AM

  7. pertov u r a dirty cheating gypsy,just like in your­ days at celtic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From johnboyclarkson, on Wed 20 May 7:53AM

  8. Oh dear. The delusion brigade are out in force again.­

    gerardpearson, Downing has not been performing­ consistently poorly. Yes, this season has been poor,­ but everyone in the team has been rubbish. Last year he­ did superbly well for us. Downing is in the England­ squad on merit, but unfortunately, since he doesn't­ play for Chelsea or Man Utd, the media ignore what he­ does well, and feed scraps of misinformation to the­ general public.

    Thank you, I think Billy. Though I­ must disagree that the Championship is 'where we­ belong'.

    justinbowie1, it doesn't matter how­ much money you have, or how badly your manager wants a­ player - he won't sign one with a broken foot. So­ it kinda does matter until Downing is in fit state to­ pass a medical.

    From Tom, on Wed 20 May 1:47AM

  9. number 30 if you were born 2 miles from the gypsy­ gooner ground then you should be a yidd. look on a map­ at where arsenal really is you mugg

    From rick c, on Tue 19 May 11:32PM

  10. Downing - poor player - 15 mil qwhat a joke

    give him­ matchsticks for legs

    From Sean, on Tue 19 May 10:56PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WRONG NEWARK YMCA.. WE HAVE THE BEST YOUTH TEAM IN THE­ COUNTRY AND OUR WOMENS TEAM WON THEIR PREMIERSHIP WHEN­ YOU SAY ARSENAL ARE NEVER FIRST IN ANYTHING GET YOUR­ FACTS RIGHT FIRST.
    DIDNT DO WELL AT SCHOOL MATE I­ SUPPOSE YOU RE A MAN U SUPPORTER EVERYONES JUMPED ON­ THE BANDWAGON KIN GLORY HUNTERS. I WAS BORN 2 MILES­ FROM THE ARSENAL GROUND THATS WHY I AM AN ARSENAL­ FAN..
    AND I CAN ADD UP AS WELL. SEEMS TO ME YOU SPOUT­ ON ABOUT RENAN SHOULD KNOW ..WHEN YOU ARE WRONG­ YOURSELF T H I N K B4 YOU WRITE ...HAHAHAHA SPURS­ SUPPORTER??

    From billiball2002, on Tue 19 May 10:38PM
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    hes @#$%

    From markfurlong1491, on Tue 19 May 10:32PM

  13. i saw the tackle by petrov on tv .
    AND PETROV­ DELIBERATELY TROD ON DOWNINGS FOOT AS DOWNING WAS GOING­ THROUGH ON GOAL.
    iF YOU GET A CHANCE YOU WATCH PETROV­ HE TROD ON DOWNINGS FOOT DELIBERATELY.
    THATS VIOLENCE­ AND DANGEROUS PLAY TO DO THAT ON PURPOSE .
    PETROV YOU­ SHOULD BE BANNED.
    JUST LIKE THAT BIRMINGHAM PLAYER WHO­ LAUNCHED HIMSELF AT OF ARSENAL AND­ THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT EITHER . MAYBE HE WAS TOLD TO MAIM­ PLAYERS BY THEIR VICIOUS MANAGER MC LEISH. THE WHOLE­ WORLD KNOWS IT .IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT DO KARATE / NOT­ FOOTBALLBOXING

    From billiball2002, on Tue 19 May 10:20PM

  14. hope you get better Stewie!!

    From alex_davis_9, on Tue 19 May 10:06PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    your all t@@@ERS

    From sonic2three, on Tue 19 May 10:04PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he is @#$% anyway

    From Robert G, on Tue 19 May 9:38PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It doesn't matter to Middlesbrough anyway.He's­ gonna b leavin 2 go 2 Spurs in da summer whether­ he's got an injury or not

    From justinbowie1, on Tue 19 May 9:28PM

  18. Im an exciled Manc who's lived in Middlesbrough for­ the past 32 odd years and iv'e personally hoped­ they go down to where they so rightly belong every­ season of that time, but for those who don't see­ Downing perform week in and week out, you haven't­ got a Fooking clue what your talking about and as much­ as i dislike Boro as a football club, what i can tell­ all you morons south of York who don't rate Downing­ whether he wears an England shirt or a Boro shirt is­ that Stewart Downing is a top class Football Player who­ has become a wasted talent at Boro and should have been­ plying his trade at a bigger better club a long time­ ago, hence the reasons as to why the big Clubs the­ likes of Liverpool, Everton, Spurs and Villa etc...have­ got him at the top of their shopping lists, it also­ says a great deal about Downing when a certain Mr.­ Ferguson also rates the lad very-very highly.

    City­ Til' I Die!!

    From Bilbo, on Tue 19 May 9:25PM

  19. stewy hope you have a swift recovery! x
    also stewy­ might not be the best player but he does try bless him

    From smiley123, on Tue 19 May 9:02PM

  20. Downing is a winger...exchange the letters i and g..you­ get the idea...why on earth is this guy worth 15mill­ whats he done?..he performs consistantly, poorly, he­ led his side to what surely is relegation, the same as­ newcastle some of these players need a kick in the­ pants, downing is only in the england squad cos his­ left peg is marginally better than mine

    From gerardpearson, on Tue 19 May 8:46PM
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