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Boro chief confident of holding on to Downing

28/06/2008

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb is confident of being able to retain winger Stewart Downing ahead of next season.

Downing has consistently been linked with a move away from the Riverside but Lamb has so far rejected any offers for the 23-year-old.

Liverpool have been linked with the left-sided player after he got back to his best form at the end of last season. Those performances also earned him a call-up to the England squad.

However, Lamb believes Downing can fulfil his ambitions by staying with his boyhood club although he also feels the player himself still has room for improvement.

Downing signed a contract extension midway through last season and Lamb knows it would take a large offer to prize him away from Boro.

Lamb said: "We were all delighted that Stewart signed a new contract last season. We believe he is happy and settled here.

"Having said that, we know that Stewart has to achieve all that his talent allows, so the onus is on Middlesbrough to ensure his ambitions are fulfilled here."

Lamb has challenged Downing to improve even further next season and cement himself a place amongst Europe's elite players. The Boro chief executive feels that if Downing can achieve this it will benefit both himself and the club.

Lamb said: "I don't feel that he has fulfilled his potential yet. His best years are ahead of him. In fact, we believe Stewart will become one of the best footballers not just in Britain but in Europe."