Stewart Downing will want to repay the faith in him shown by Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, according to Jonathan Woodgate, who hailed him as Boro’s best ever Academy product.

The winger will come up against his former club, and brother-in-law Woodgate, three months after leaving the Riverside for a second time.

Downing started the opening day defeat to Charlton and will hope to regain his place in the side after scoring a late equaliser in the Carabao Cup win over Oldham on Tuesday.

And Woodgate, a former team-mate of Downing, says the 35-year-old is deserving of a great reception from the travelling fans.

“Listen, Stewie has been a top player in his career and for this football club,” Woodgate said.

“He’s the best player to come through the Boro Academy.

“He’s won a lot of England caps, he’s played at top clubs Liverpool, Villa, West Ham, some of the biggest clubs in England. He’s moved to Blackburn now and I hope he does well.

“We speak. We speak often on the phone. Although we haven't so much leading up to this game.

“Tony Mowbray has shown a good amount of faith in him and I’m sure he will repay that back.”

Downing parted ways with Boro just weeks before Woodgate was handed the top job, having previously been a coach under former boss Tony Pulis.

There will be no shortage of connections between the two teams tomorrow afternoon, and Woodgate added: “All the family will be there so I’ll be looking forward to. We’re all going.

“Carter (his son, 7) will want Boro to win and my wife (Natalie, Downing’s sister) will but probably the rest will be wanting Blackburn.

“That’s only natural.”

Woodgate is yet to win any of his three games in charge, while Rovers sneaked past Oldham on Tuesday after losing their opening two matches.

But not feeling the heat just yet, Woodgate said: “Blackburn are bottom. That doesn’t put any extra pressure on me. There’s only two games gone. It’s a ‘big’ game but they all are in this league.

“Tony will set out his team as he usually does. He’s a fantastic manager.

“He did a fantastic job for us at this football club and it was difficult for him. The purse strings were tight.

“No doubt with a lot more money like managers have had in the he would have been a lot more successful.”