Downing backed for lead role

Boro boss confident young winger can become leader

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 2nd October 2008

Downing backed for lead role

Downing: Has Southgate support

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Manager Gareth Southgate feels Stewart Downing can develop into an effective leader at Middlesbrough.

With regular skipper Emanuel Pogatetz suspended, the 24-year-old was handed the captain's armband for last Saturday's Premier League clash against West Brom.

The left winger is one of the major successes of Boro's academy having been a first-team regular since 2003 while also becoming an England international.

And Southgate believes the time is right for him to take on greater responsibility.

"He is our longest-serving outfield player, and I think the responsibility is good for him in terms of growing as a person as well," said Southgate.

"We have got some leaders in the group, but we need more people to come forward as leaders, and he sometimes doesn't realise the impact he can have on the team. It's good experience for him."

Southgate also had to develop as a captain after starting his playing career at Crystal Palace and the former England international went on to skipper Aston Villa and Boro too.

"I always captained teams when I was younger and when I was a junior with Crystal Palace," he said.

"But by the same token, I was quiet, like most young players when they go into the first team.

Encouragement

"But my coaches and managers encouraged me to develop those skills and, especially with the young group of players we have got, we need to keep encouraging that."

Downing acts as a role model to the more recent academy graduates at the Riverside Stadium, although Southgate reckons Boro need a group of leaders to emerge for them to fulfil their true potential.

"Football gives you the obvious examples, but leadership is crucial in any team," he said.

"You look at the successful teams, whether it is the England rugby team or the cricket team that won the Ashes a couple of years ago, and you tend to have five or six people within that group who could have captained it.

"That plays a huge role within most successful teams.

"There aren't many leaders in football these days - we don't breed many leaders in society, so we have to try to develop people while they are with us. Society is changing, that is just a fact of the modern world."