Downing op tomorrow

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing will undergo an exploratory operation on his injured knee tomorrow morning.

The 20-year-old midfielder was sent home from England’s end-of-season tour to America last week after jarring his knee in training and, although the damage is not thought to be serious, a specialist will carry out an arthroscopic investigation to assess the extent of the problem.

However, club medics believe that Downing, who made a major impact after breaking into the first team last season, will be fit for the start of the new campaign.

Manager Steve McClaren will hope to have him at his disposal from day one after admitting his surprise at the rapidity with which he has established himself in the side.

Downing’s emergence came as a huge bonus when Gaizka Mendieta’s season was ended prematurely by a knee ligament injury and having both players available would give the manager further options in midfield.

However, McClaren is hoping to tie up Bolo Zenden, Doriva and, longer term, George Boateng in new contracts, and until he gets positive answers from Zenden and Doriva, he will not know exactly what he will need to strengthen his squad this summer.

Boro have admitted their interest in Inter Milan’s Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah and were linked over the weekend for a bid for Real Madrid’s Luis Figo, although the latter would certainly fall outside the age bracket in which the manager has vowed to do his recruiting.