Downing seemed to have ended persistent speculation linking him with a move elsewhere when he signed a new five-year contract at the Riverside Stadium in February.

Yet with just over a month to go before the January transfer window opens, the 24-year-old has again been the subject of transfer gossip.

Tottenham, the club most commonly linked with him, were this week reported to be preparing an £11million bid but the England international is determined to fulfil his ambitions with hometown Boro.

Downing said: "I signed a long-term deal last season. My only aim is to try to get into Europe with Middlesbrough.

"There is always going to be speculation about players and clubs, not only me. You have just got to black it out.

"If you concentrate on what the press are saying your form might dip. I will only concentrate on playing well for Middlesbrough."

Downing, who has earned 21 international caps, is yet to fully win over the England fans but he earned praise for his performance in last week's friendly win over Germany.

Downing now hopes to maintain his form at club level and help Boro bounce back from last weekend's Barclays Premier League loss to Bolton as Newcastle visit the Riverside.

"I took a lot of confidence from that England game," he said. "It was a good result and the performances were good.

"The other lads have done well with their national teams too and hopefully we can kick on and that will bode well for our team."

Boro boss Gareth Southgate is unconcerned by the return of rumours linking Downing with Tottenham and insists he has no intention of selling.

He prefers to see the stories as an indication his players are performing well rather than as an irritant.

"It doesn't bother me," Southgate said. "It is a good sign that if we are doing well, people will speculate about our players or want to buy them.

"We couldn't sell a player three years ago so I think that is healthy.

"We have to accept as we move towards January clubs will be looking for players. "We want to build on the squad we have got if we can.

"If someone was to offer £30million I could say something different, but we want to keep our best players, that is for certain."

Southgate was disappointed by his side's performance against Bolton last time out, when a 3-1 defeat ended a five-game unbeaten run. He hopes to see that put right against Newcastle tomorrow when he expects a full house at the Riverside to inspire his side.

"We had a poor performance last weekend," he said. "We set our standards higher than that and we have got to respond and try to put it right.

"The character and the commitment of the players is never in question. It's just a matter of making better decisions than we did last week, at both ends of the field.

"If we can do that, that will go a long way towards getting a result.

"For our fans this is a big game, there is no question about that. We want to reward them with the performance we are capable of giving.

"The crowd makes a huge difference for a player. The more people you can get into a ground, the better they perform."

The game will see Southgate pit his wits against Newcastle interim manager Joe Kinnear, whose appointment has now been extended until the end of the season.

Southgate has respect for the 61-year-old former Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest boss and believes he now has just reward for his efforts since succeeding Kevin Keegan.

Southgate said: "Joe has given them a direction now. It is brilliant for him, he deserves that for what he has done.

"I'm sure he that is what he hoped for when he got the opportunity in the first place.

"I'm sure he didn't think this opportunity would come along at this stage but he has grabbed it and good luck to him.

"Everybody knows the quality of players they have got and we will need to be at our very best to beat them."