Both play for England, both possess a cultured left foot, both wanted to leave their clubs recently - both have stayed and are still in impressive form.

Barry wanted to join Liverpool from Aston Villa in the summer but eventually stayed and has been the model of consistency since, while Downing handed in a transfer request last month as he wanted to move to Tottenham.

"He's never been a problem for us," Southgate said. "His attitude to things is great and he's a Middlesbrough lad who wants Middlesbrough to do well.

"He's frustrated as everyone is that we haven't been able to match other clubs in the transfer market but that is the reality of the situation we have.

"His determination is to make sure we come out of the spell we've had."

Downing, who was employed in a central role, opened the scoring at Upton Park on Saturday in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against West Ham - his first strike of the season.

"He's played in that role a few times for us and he's been excellent," Southgate said. "One of the reasons we've been able to do it is the good form of Adam Johnson on the left.

"It gives us another creative player in midfield, with pace to run at teams from deep."

Downing, 24, could have had two other goals before West Ham hit back through Herita Ilunga heading home Savio Nsereko's free-kick to earn a replay a week on Tuesday.

"We created a lot of chances and should have finished it off," said Downing. "If we look at their goal we're disappointed because it was a set-piece - we coped well with them all afternoon apart from the last one."

In contrast to Downing, Ilunga recently committed his future to his club after being on loan from French side Toulouse.

"He has signed a contract for four and a half years so he will be with us for a long time," said Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola. "I don't think there are many left-backs playing as well he is."

Zola has also been encouraged by Lucas Neill insisting he wants to stay at the club beyond the summer when his contract runs out.

Scott Parker has recently signed a long-term deal and Zola wants to seal the signatures of goalkeeper Robert Green and centre-back Matthew Upson.

Zola is waiting for X-ray results on Carlton Cole's ankle injury picked up in the first half against Boro and getting the England striker fit again has taken on greater importance as Dean Ashton admits he is not concentrating on returning this season.

Ashton, after his ankle surgery under Niek van Dijk and James Calder, said: "I'm looking to try to get myself back for pre-season now. After this op I've got to get myself fit and don't want to come back unless I'm right."

Zola won the FA Cup twice as a player at Chelsea and is determined to win as a manager.

"I had memories of the Italian Cup which is not considered very important in Italy," he said.

"I had the same idea of the FA Cup, then I saw the crowd so passionate about it that I had to change my mind. It was an unbelievable experience."