Thursday 21st May: News

As the desolation congregates over the Riverside, Middlesbrough winger Stuart Downing will find his opportunities of finding serenity extremely limited upon being told that surgery is required on his injured right foot – indefinitely ruling the 23-capped international out of England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra in June. The prolonged spell in the treatment room could also damage the prospects of a summer move elsewhere as the Championship lies in waiting for Middlesbrough.

Downing controversially handed in a transfer request in January and he could be the figurehead of a mass exodus on Teeside as the likelihood of luring the watchful eyes of Fabio Capello from the second-tier doldrums is certainly a grim vision. A perfect scenario for the born-and-bred local hero would be to witness a remarkable reversal in fortunes as Middlesbrough cling on to Premiership survival with a victory over West Ham, alongside other results finishing in a favourable outcome.

Even if the unlikely materialises into a well-timed miracle, however, flying to South Africa in 2010 might ultimately elude his grasps should there be a recurrence of an indifferent campaign which has been sparse of creative assists and deficient of goals – the gauges of any mercurial widemen - in spite of his club’s extensive on-field woes. Perhaps a transfer would be constructive for Downing to concentrate on hitting peak form, while Middlesbrough could invest the revenue from the sale to either strengthen their ailing squad or to fund an extravagent tilt at a Premiership return at the very first chance.

The pendulum that determines the winner of the Belgian First Division is still firmly positioned in neutral territory after Standard Liege defended their championship with a 1-1 draw at Anderlecht in the first-leg of the all-decisive playoff. On 52 minutes, the trophy was heading in the direction of Brussels as Jonathan Legear handed Anderlecht the lead but an equaliser courtesy of Dieumerci Mbokani threw the advantage into the hands of the reigning title holders, protected in the knowledge that Anderlecht must open their goalscoring account when they travel to Liege on Sunday.

Theofanis Gekas’ loan agreement with Portsmouth has been mutually terminated, prompting a return to parent club Bayer Leverkusen having made only one cameo appearance as a substitute. His relationship with Paul Hart reached an irretrievable state, the breaking point surmounted when the Greek striker apparently refused to participate in last Monday’s Premiership fixture when Sunderland visited Fratton Park.

Manchester City have acquired 16-year-old left-back Nils Zander from Schalke and the German teenager is widely expected to step up as understudy to Wayne Bridge in the near future. The capture is a sign of fulfilment on their declaration that their youth policy will not be hindered in the wake of colossal investment in the senior ranks.