Winger hopes to catch Sven's eye

Stewart Downing is hoping his Uefa Cup heroics will take him to the World Cup.

Stewart Downing is hoping his Uefa Cup heroics will persuade Sven Goran Eriksson to take him to the World Cup.

The Middlesbrough winger was an influential figure in his side's stunning comeback against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday evening.

Boro trailed 3-0 on aggregate on the night, but recovered to prevail 4-3 and book a Uefa Cup final date against Sevilla in Eindhoven.

Now Downing is keeping his fingers crossed that England coach Eriksson, who was at The Riverside, will include him in his World Cup squad.

Downing is currently on the fringes of the Three Lions setup, but the wide man is anxious to break into Eriksson's final 23.

"I saw him before the game," Downing told The Independent on Sunday. "He just said, 'Good luck'.

"I don't know if he was here watching me or supporting the gaffer.

"If he picks me, he picks me.

"He wants everyone to play in the big games and you can't get any bigger than that one. I just hope that he took notice."

Meanwhile, Downing has urged club manager Steve McClaren to ensure George Boateng and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stay on Teesside.

He added: "All the players out of contract need to be signed on now.

"People like Jimmy and George are crucial to us and we have to keep hold of our big players.

"Those guys showed in the Uefa Cup and other competitions just how important they are and we cannot let them go."