MIDDLESBROUGH remain months away from achieving their targets for this season, but Stewart Downing’s decision to step down a level could yet lead to an incredible league and cup double.

As Aitor Karanka leads his team into December, Boro sit in an automatic promotion spot and could tonight land a place in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup.

Little wonder that Downing has had no qualms about leaving the Premier League behind as he prepares to play in front of a packed Riverside Stadium against an Everton team bursting with international talent. Imagine the feelings the hometown winger will cherish if he can help bring top-flight football back to Teesside after enjoying a Wembley final too.

If Middlesbrough can stun Everton tonight the prospect of a first League Cup final since winning the competition in 2004 will suddenly be real and it would give Downing an incredible amount of satisfaction to be there again; giving he was part of the celebrations in Cardiff 11 years ago when he was an unused substitute.

“I might (have regrets) if we don’t get promoted,” joked Downing. “But no, not really. I made a decision and I’ll stick by it. I’ve had no regrets up until now. We’re in a good position in the league and after Tuesday night we could be in the semi-final of the cup.

“We can get to the top of the league, we haven’t really been top drawer either. We’ve been a bit up and down. The aim is to get promoted but this is a great opportunity for us to reach a semi-final. By the end of the week we could be top of the Championship and looking forward to a semi-final, so we have got to be happy with how things are going.”

Middlesbrough’s defeat at Hull on November 7 is their only reverse in seven matches, winning the rest including a penalty shoot-out victory at Manchester United in the previous round of the Capital One Cup.

There is a huge amount of excitement building up to the visit of Everton and Downing remembers being part of the match-day squad in 2004 under Steve McClaren when Boro won the competition.

Even though he had to watch the match from the bench, he was still part of the celebrations. As he spoke in the media suite at the club’s Rockliffe Park training ground yesterday morning, a picture of him from that afternoon in South Wales was handing on the wall.

“I was only a young lad and it was just good to be involved,” said Downing. “I did get a medal because I’d been involved in the earlier rounds. It would have been nice to come on, don’t get me wrong, but it was just really good to be involved in such a famous day for this football club.

“It was massive, the first trophy for the club. The scenes afterwards with the chairman (Steve Gibson) on the pitch were incredible. The parade through the town afterwards was amazing, it was a long time ago, but it was a brilliant start for me at this club.

“We played in Europe after that which was wonderful and we had some brilliant nights in the UEFA Cup as well. It does make me all the more excited about the possibility of getting to another semi-final.

“I remember the parade through the streets of Middlesbrough more than anything. It was absolutely packed and we haven’t seen that since.

“To get to another semi-final after all this time, it would be great, the town would be absolutely bouncing. We’ve got a hell of a chance. We have proven we can beat the best teams, especially at home.”

Downing went on to win the League Cup during his time at Liverpool in 2012 and, having enjoyed the celebrations which followed that year too, he can’t understand why teams don’t take the cup competitions more seriously – even at Premier League level.

“It would be a shame to come all this way and not go for the win,” he said. “I’m sure the manager sees it that way. I don’t know, he might make a few changes, but whoever comes in will have the quality to really go for it.

“No matter who we are playing, we have proven we can match them. We’re really going to go for it to get the win, I’m sure that’s how the manager feels.

“You saw the team Manchester United put out, they obviously wanted to win it. A lot of teams don’t. They want to concentrate on the league, especially in the Premier League, and this competition gets pushed to one side a little bit.

“Our manager has stressed that no matter what cup competition we play in, we’re going to really go for it. It’s a chance to win a trophy and there aren’t many of them for players or managers.

“I know Everton will see it that way, they will put out their strongest side because they probably aren’t going to get into the Champions League places and for a club like Everton, this is a great opportunity for them to get to a final and into Europe. It will be difficult, more difficult than the Man U game. Let’s make it a special night in front of a full Riverside.”