Stewart Downing could leave Middlesbrough when his contract expires but he impressed in the Championship against Bristol City.
Stewart Downing made a dramatic return to Middlesbrough’s starting XI on Tuesday night.
The 34-year-old veteran had not been included in Tony Pulis’s first-team since the turn of the year due to a clause in his contract which meant Boro would trigger a 12-month extension as soon as he made his 22nd start of the Championship season.
But, according to the Gazette Live, the club came to an agreement with Downing ahead of the clash with play-off rivals Bristol City at the Riverside. The former England international is now free to start games again with the extension clause removed from a contract that is due to expire in July.
And although Middlesbrough lost 1-0 at home to The Robins, a result which casts doubt once again on their promotion hopes, Downing showed that there is plenty of life in the old dog just yet.
The former Aston Villa and Liverpool winger was Boro’s best player, rolling back the years while producing a series of quality deliveries from out wide.
The Northern Echo reported that Sunderland and Rangers would be keen to sign Downing on a free, though he would prefer a move to Wearside for family reasons. And on last night’s evidence, signing a high earning 34-year-old might be a good idea after all.
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