Downing set for Middlesbrough return

England international Stewart Downing is set for a remarkable return to Middlesbrough, according to the Mail Online.

The 30 year old has spent the last two seasons with West Ham United, where he has racked up seventy-four appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals.

However, the East London club have given the midfielder permissions to talk to his former club, who were beaten by Norwich City in last season’s Championship Play-Off final at Wembley.

Downing originally left Teeside in the summer of 2009, when he secured a move to Aston Villa, while two years later he was transferred to Liverpool before eventually joining the Hammers in July 2013.

He has thirty-five caps for his country, with his last appearance for Roy Hodgson’s side coming in a 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland back in November while he was a member of the squads for both the 2006 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships.