World Cup qual - Downing out of England clashes

Eurosport - Thu, 21 May 19:40:00 2009

Stewart Downing was ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra after Middlesbrough confirmed that he will not return from injury until the end of the summer.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing breaks his foot in a challenge with Aston Villa's Stiliyan Petrov that rules him out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra - 0

Downing, 24, was already out of Boro's final match of the Premier League season, a trip to West Ham that could condemn them to relegation even if they win.

"I think Stewart is going to be out for two or three months at least," assistant boss Malcolm Crosby said.

"That's not good news for him or the club. Stewart is facing an operation and will be very frustrated.

"Stewart has played every game for us this season and has made a big contribution. He hasn't scored goals, but he has worked extremely hard."

Winger Downing has a foot injury suffered after a tackle by Stiliyan Petrov during the 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa, their last match.

"I have looked at the challenge again by Petrov and, while it was a clumsy challenge, I think it was an accident," Crosby added.

"I don't think that for one minute he meant to do it. Injuries are part of the game and you get used to them happening when you least want them."

It is expected that he will have a pin inserted and return after a minimum of 10 weeks, the usual timeframe for a broken foot.

Boro are second-bottom in the league, three points from safety, and must hope that they win and both Newcastle and Hull lose against Villa and Manchester United respectively.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. footyfan4eva
    you are really funny!

    From cameron w, on Fri 22 May 8:55PM

  2. STEWY D get well soon you might not be the best player­ in the world as i have said before but you do try an do­ the best for team although thats not working for our­ team at the moment as he is injured. by the way a note­ for liverpool: DO NOT BUY STEWY D HE IS NOWEHERE NEAR­ THE SAME LEAGUE AS YOUR PLAYERS. YOUR PLAYERS ARE WORLD­ CLASS DOWNING IS....ERM......NOT WORLD CLASS! JUST LET­ HIM GO TO TOTTENHAM TO JOIN HIS FELLOW TEAMATE JONNY­ WOODGATE! i do care for liverpool i think they are a­ mint team

    From smiley123, on Fri 22 May 7:22PM

  3. I can't understand how someone who is apparently an­ attacking winger with no goals and only 3 assists in an­ entire prem season can even get in the England squad.­ Yet players like Ashley Young who have an end product­ are in and out the squad let alone getting on the­ pitch. I think Downing's Dad must have sneaked his­ way onto the England coaching staff, it's the only­ explanation.

    From Paul T, on Fri 22 May 6:55AM

  4. Man, you English don't have much of a team to begin­ with and yet you still keep losing losers... er, I mean­ "players" along the way... how sad...

    From DaGringo, on Fri 22 May 4:33AM

  5. I know he's not the best player on the planet but­ theres no need to insult him at least he tries. Anyway,­ who else have we got to play on the left?

    From Chris, on Thu 21 May 7:30PM

  6. that is a real loss. To england and the boro

    From alex_davis_9, on Thu 21 May 7:11PM

  7. oh no we have got hardly any chance of winning now but­ atleast we still can win but unlikely

    From Brandon, on Thu 21 May 6:15PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Good, he's s(hite) anyway.

    From cameron w, on Thu 21 May 6:12PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!­ I'd rather have Guppy on the left! Then again, look­ at Rooney for UTD out there!

    From d.papas2, on Thu 21 May 6:05PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    good job!!!!!!!!!! and hopefully boro will be­ relegated, downing wont move, and we never see him in­ an england shirt again !!!!!!!!!

    From bast337, on Thu 21 May 5:11PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If anything will lift Kazakhstan and Andorra it will be­ the news that he's out, what a blow. We're done­ for, no chance of a result now.

    From Des, on Thu 21 May 5:06PM

  12. OH NO! HOW WILL WE COPW WITHOUT THE GREAT STUART­ DOWNING!

    From martinmcneill87, on Thu 21 May 4:51PM
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