Source: SKY_Sports
Southgate hails Johnson
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has hailed the recent impact Adam Johnson has made on his first-team.[LNB] Despite Boro's struggles, Johnson has been given his longest run in the side since making his debut under Steve McClaren.[LNB]Now Johnson is making a big impact with Boro and England's U21 side; form which has seen him linked to some of Europe's biggest clubs including Real Madrid and Liverpool.[LNB]And Southgate admits he is delighted with the Sunderland-born wide-man. [LNB]"Adam has taken his chance well and he has set standards that he needs to maintain," Southgate told the Evening Gazette.[LNB]"He has established himself as part of the squad and has to continue to push on.[LNB]"We have been delighted with what he has achieved and he has the ability to do well.[LNB]"What he needs is the experience and this will come in time.[LNB]"When Adam is playing like this it gives us the chance to look at Stewart [Downing] again and consider switching him because we know there is another side to his game than just playing out wide.[LNB]"I thought Stewart looked a really top player at West Ham because he was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck with his runs from deep positions.[LNB]"He has that ability and we must use it when the time is right. We can do that when Adam is performing well because it gives us so many other options."[LNB]
