STEWART DOWNING
Born: 22 July 1984, Middlesbrough, England
Former clubs: Middlesbrough, Sunderland (loan), Aston Villa, Liverpool
Talented England international Stewart Downing joined West Ham United from Liverpool in August 2013 putting pen to paper on a four-year contract.
The sight of the winger creating chances has delighted fans at Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Liverpool, the latter of which benefited from a Man of the Match display by Downing as they won the Carling Cup in 2012.
Capped more than 30 times by his country, Downing travelled to the 2012 UEFA European Championship finals and won Player of the Year honours at all three clubs he represented on a permanent basis prior to his move to east London.
2014/15
Made a sparkling start to the campaign, scoring from outside the box in the Hammers' 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on 23 August 2014...Excelled in a new role at the beginning of the campaign, spearheading a midfield diamond.
2013/14
Made his West Ham United debut as a substitute in a 2-0 home Barclays Premier League win over Cardiff City on 17 August 2013...Made his first start for West Ham United in a goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Newcastle United on 24 August 2013....Assisted Carlton Cole for the Hammers' ssecond goal in their 3-0 defeat of Fulham on 30 November 2013...Suffered an ankle injury at former club Liverpool on 7 December 2013 and returned to the team at Fulham on 1 January 2014...Scored his first goal in Calret and Blue in the final home game of the season as the Hammers completed the treble over Tottenham Hotspur, Downing's free-kick doubling the lead en route to a 2-0 victory.
International Career
Made his senior England debut in 2004 when he was bought on by then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson against the Netherlands at Villa Park...Included in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany where he made three appearances all as a substitute...Roy Hodgson included the winger in his squad for Euro 2012, but he did not appear at the tournament.
Before West Ham
Began his career at hometown club Middlesbrough making his Premiership debut aged just 17...Enjoyed a successful loan spell at Sunderland before he established himself as a first-team regular in the Middlesbrough side which lifted the Carling Cup in 2004, beating Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers in the final...Continued to impress at the Riverside and had a key role to play in the club's run to the UEFA Cup final under Steve McLaren in 2006, losing in the final to Sevilla...Following Middlesbrough's relegation at the Boleyn Ground in May 2009, moved to Aston Villa where he stayed for two seasons being voted the club's Player of the season for 2010/11...Moved to Liverpool for a reported £20m in 2011...Put in a Man of the Match display and scored his spot-kick as the club won the Carling Cup on penalties against Cardiff in February 2012.