Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is open to sending winger Adam Johnson away on-loan to Scotland.
"He's a great prospect but Stewart Downing's ahead of him for us so we have to see how he gets on in pre-season.
"We need to work out whether to keep him here this season or if he needs a bit more experience. He's very young and still learning his trade.
"The Championship would be good for him but we had Josh Walker at Aberdeen last season and that worked out well."