Middlesbrough coach Colin Cooper says Stewart Downing's new central role has been created with England in mind.

"The new position gives Stewart a different focus. Since the age of six or seven he has been a left-winger, but I think he has relished the opportunity to move inside," said Cooper.

"We are well aware of the stats. He gets in more crosses than any other left sided player in the league.

"But then he is just as creative in the middle. He played Afonso in with a superb reverse pass at West Ham.

"In any case Stewart is developing his game. Fabio Capello has encouraged him to come off the line and effect the game from the centre of the pitch and if Capello wants him to do that for England, then there must be something in it."