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Downing retains spot-kick duty

Image: Downing: Strong character

Boro boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed Stewart Downing will stay on as the club's penalty taker.

Southgate has faith in England international

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed Stewart Downing will stay on as the club's penalty taker. It had been thought Downing could be replaced as the man to score from 12 yards out following his second miss of the season at the weekend. Having already failed from the penalty spot against Stoke, Downing crucially missed again in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to North East rivals Sunderland.

Faith

Despite the misses, Downing has told Southgate he wants to carry on with the responsibility and the Boro chief in turn has faith in the England winger. "Stewart's already said he wants to take our next penalty," said Southgate. "I don't have a problem with that because we have faith in him. "He's a braver man then that. That's he's ready to take another penalty shows you the type of character he is."