Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate hailed midfielder Stewart Downing after he put a difficult week behind him to help secure a valuable derby point from the 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
It was the 24-year-old England international's pass which set up record signing Afonso Alves to fire his side into the lead in the final minute of the first half, although his overall performance was just what his manager had been looking for.
Southgate said: "He was excellent. There were two things about it, really: one, he got a brilliant response from the supporters before the game, which will have been a huge lift for him, and then he gave a performance full of quality, but also endeavour."
He added: "He worked his socks off for the team, got back and won tackles, got back to intercept things.
"He is a class player and he showed today why it is so important for us to hang on to him."
Southgate insisted Downing did not actually hand in a written transfer request, but admitted he had asked about a move as Tottenham formalised their interest in him.
Having been told he would not be sold, he has committed himself to the club for the rest of the season, although what happens then remains to be seen.
Southgate said: "We have just said, there is nothing going to happen now, and what happens in the future happens in the future.
"None of us can look that far forward. We have got a job to do here. We have got on with it.
"He understands our situation. As I said earlier in the week, he loves playing for this football club and nothing would give him greater pleasure than for him to be playing here and us being up at the top of the league."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
