IS Stewart Downing in danger of becoming the new John Barnes – in reverse?
It’s a question many Liverpool supporters are likely to ponder after watching the winger continually torment the opposing defence and create the winner on Tuesday night.
The problem for such fans is that Downing wasn’t wearing the red of their club, but instead the white of England.
And that’s been the story for the 27-year-old since arriving at Anfield from Aston Villa for almost £20million this summer: excellent for country, indifferent for club.
Barnes, of course, was too often guilty of the opposite, although it could be argued England weren’t set up properly to make the most of his outrageous talent.
It’s a bit early to accuse Liverpool of being similarly negligent with Downing, as both player and club are still growing accustomed to each other.
But clearly there’s an issue. How can Kenny Dalglish extract the form that Fabio Capello has been able to so far this season?
To be fair, it’s not as though Downing has been poor for Liverpool.
The wide man has been solid and done little wrong, plus he has been unfortunate in great goalkeeping and the woodwork denying him a clutch of goals and assists.
Yet such impact has been all too infrequent. Downing’s former manager at Middlesbrough, Gareth Southgate, has hinted the winger needs to believe in himself more to realise his true level, which Steven Gerrard this week declared could make him one of the best players in the Premier League.
Certainly, Downing’s confidence cannot be much higher than at present having deservedly earned plaudits for a convincing display against Sweden this week.
The victory, which followed Saturday’s triumph over World and European Champions Spain, has gone a long way to help Capello determine the core of his squad for next summer’s European Championships.
Injuries permitting, there now appear only a few places up for grabs. But, with so many fringe and young players having impressed, Capello won’t be facing another mad panic should one of his tried and trusted drop out on the eve of the finals, as happened with Rio Ferdinand ahead of last year’s World Cup.
The real winners during the past few days have been Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jagielka. Jones’s versatility at both right-back and defensive midfield makes him a shoo-in, while Capello is clearly taken with Welbeck’s fine start to the season.
Jagielka, meanwhile, was outstanding in keeping Spain at bay – particularly given a healing broken toe – and, alongside former Everton team-mate Joleon Lescott, offers a ready-made defensive partnership.
Jack Rodwell was instantly at home in an England shirt, but along with the likes of Kyle Walker and Adam Johnson, the challenge now is to continue progressing with his club to ensure he is ready to step in next summer should the opportunity arise.
Indeed, the options available to Capello mean he may ultimately have to decide between his two recent matchwinners, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry, for a finals berth.
The evidence to this point suggests that Capello’s final 23, assuming they remain fit and in form, could look like: Hart, Carson, Green; Jones, G Johnson, Jagielka, Lescott, Cahill, Terry, Baines, Cole; Walcott, Milner, Wilshere, Gerrard, Barry, Parker, Downing, Young; Rooney, Bent, Welbeck, Sturridge.
