Middlesbrough signing Stewart Downing says he'd still be a West Ham United player if Sam Allardyce was in charge.

He quit the Hammers for Boro last week.

Downing said: “I was sad to see Sam go – he was great for me and a good man to play for.

“And I got on really well with him. I think I was a big part of his plans.

“But once he left, I had two years on my contract and there were a lot of changes going on there.

“It was always in the back of my mind to come back here. I spoke to Slaven about it. I have nothing against him – but he wanted to bring his own players in.

“He did say he was counting on me big time, but when I spoke to him one-on-one, I didn't get the feeling I got from Sam and from Aitor Karanka when I signed here.

“The way Aitor spoke to me, I thought, 'I really want to play for him and he really wants me here'. I like to get that feeling from a manager.

“For me it was a good time to come back."