If Sven Goran Eriksson opts for a 4-4-2 formation it's possible that Downing could get the nod to start. With Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge missing his main threat to starting on the left could be Joe Cole, who has filled the position before.
The full squad for the games against Northern Ireland on Saturday and Azerbaijan next Wednesday is as follows:
Paul Robinson (Spurs)
David James (Man City)
Robert Green (Norwich)
Gary Neville (Man Utd)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Phil Neville (Man Utd)
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Wes Brown (Man United)
Ledley King (Spurs)
David Beckham (Real Madrid)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)
Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle)
Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Stewart Downing (Boro)
Kieron Dyer (Newcastle)
Michael Owen (Real Madrid)
Jermain Defoe (Spurs)
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace)
Emile Heskey (Birmingham)