Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is delighted with Stewart Downing's recent form.

Downing handed in a transfer request last month as he wanted to move to Tottenham and Southgate said: "He's never been a problem for us.

"His attitude to things is great and he's a Middlesbrough lad who wants Middlesbrough to do well.

"He's frustrated as everyone is that we haven't been able to match other clubs in the transfer market but that is the reality of the situation we have.

"His determination is to make sure we come out of the spell we've had."

Downing, who was employed in a central role, opened the scoring at Upton Park on Saturday in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against West Ham - his first strike of the season.

"He's played in that role a few times for us and he's been excellent," Southgate said. "One of the reasons we've been able to do it is the good form of Adam Johnson on the left.

"It gives us another creative player in midfield, with pace to run at teams from deep."