Southgate grateful for Johnson loan

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is hoping he will reap the rewards of Adam Johnson’s adventure at Watford.

The 20-year-old midfielder was recalled from his loan spell at Vicarage Road last month after impressing for Aidy Boothroyd’s side and was thrown straight into the starting line-up for the Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

A 3-0 home defeat by Martin O’Neill’s men sent the Teesside's to Reading on Saturday with their young manager under pressure despite his chairman’s support, and a 1-1 draw in Berkshire although a positive result, extended their wait for a victory to 10 games.

Leaders Arsenal head for the Riverside Stadium but Johnson, who took his fledgling steps in the senior game in the same team as former England international Southgate, will hope to keep his place once again.

Southgate has had few qualms about giving the Sunderland-born midfielder a chance to emerge from Stewart Downing’s shadow, and is confident he has benefited from his time at Watford.

He said: “It was important for him to go away on loan. He is a young player who needed a run of games. He will have benefited from living away from home for a while, from playing in a tough division in a team that plays a different style.

“He has been really well looked after at Watford, which is why we sent him there, we knew he would be. He has been great for them and the experience has been great for him.

“He only had two games left of his loan and with it being the break for internationals, I felt it was a good time back because we knew he would add strength to our squad, and at this moment in time, it is important we have everyone available.”

Johnson announced his arrival on the international stage with his first goal for England’s Under-21s in the 1-1 European Championship qualifier draw in Portugal on November 20.

However, Southgate insists he is far from the finished article.

He said: “He will have gained a lot of confidence from what’s happened – I think he scored five while he was with Watford and had several assists as well.

“We have seen all of those games either live or on tape and we know what went well for him there – and not everything did.

“He was not outstanding every single week for them, but it was a really good experience for him and one he will be better for.”

Keeper Mark Schwarzer’s recovery from a broken thumb is well under way following his return to light training wearing a protective cover, although Brad Jones could challenge Ross Turnbull for the Australian’s place this weekend if he does not make it.

Midfielder Julio Arca has had a pain-killing injection as he bids to return from knee ligament damage, while Gary O’Neil is still battling to shake off the after-effects of a virus and Andrew Taylor’s foot injury remains a concern.