• Downing determined to prove that he has a future at Liverpool • Several Premier League clubs believed to be interested in him

The Liverpool winger Stewart Downing would consider returning to his first club Middlesbrough to play a part in their promotion push. Downing has had few first-team opportunities under Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool seem likely to attempt to offload the 28-year-old in January. The England winger joined the club in a £20m switch from Aston Villa in July last year but Rodgers is keen to address a lack of goals in his side. There is interest from a number of Premier League clubs in signing Downing permanently, but he is understood to still be determined to prove that he has a long-term future on Merseyside.

The player would prefer a temporary move and his former employers would provide a tempting alternative. Boro, who currently lie in third place in the Championship, would not comment on the matter, but sources on Teesside have indicated that nothing is likely to happen ahead of Thursday's emergency loan deadline.

However, in January there will be an opportunity to resolve a situation which bears a striking resemblance to that in which Andy Carroll found himself.

The £35m striker was surplus to requirements during the summer, but let it be known that he was willing to consider a temporary move back to Newcastle United, the club which had raked in a fee since described by manager Alan Pardew as "astronomical" for their home-grown player. But he ultimately, he ended up on a season-long loan at West Ham, a move which left Rodgers with Luis Suárez and the injured Fabio Borini as his only recognised strikers.

However, while Newcastle would have been able to fund a sizeable percentage of Carroll's wage packet, Boro would need Liverpool to pick up a large part of the tab for Downing, and that could prove a stumbling block even if they were willing to enter into an agreement.

Downing, who came through the ranks at Boro before making a £12m transfer to Aston Villa in July 2009, has managed 14 senior appearances this season, although most of his starts have come in the Europa League. In addition, he has often had to play at left-back rather than on the wing, where the teenagers Raheem Sterling and Suso have been preferred ahead of him.