Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has conceded that Stewart Downing's hopes of playing for England could be affected by his decision to drop down a division into the Championship.
The 31-year-old last played for the Three Lions last season when he was rewarded for his impressive displays for West Ham United at the start of the campaign.
However, following the arrival of Slaven Bilic at the Hammers, Downing elected to return to his hometown club for a fee of £5m, despite dropping down from the Premier League to the second tier of English football.
Karanka has admitted that Downing would find it tough to be selected for the national team if he played in Spain, although he is unsure whether he will face a similar challenge in England.
He told Sports Mole: "I don't know whether his chances would be affected playing in the Championship. In Spain though it would be difficult for a player to be selected.
"It is a good demonstration for me that he is committed to Middlesbrough and that is the most important thing for me. It is a good example for players moving forward."
Downing has made 35 appearances for England after making his debut in 2005.
Simon Sinclair
