Middlesbrough's Gary O'Neil to Return to Portsmouth?

SkySports are today reporting that current Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil is preparing to submit a transfer request to his side.

The speculation is—as it has been for several weeks—that Portsmouth are keen on bringing back their former midfielder, and that O'Neil wants to return.

The former Portsmouth player began his career on the south coast as a trainee and spent more than six seasons with the club before being allowed to leave by former manager Harry Redknapp in summer of 2007.

It was a move I never understood: it seemed that, at the time, we sold Gary O'Neil to fund a permanent move for Glen Johnson, who had a poor end of the season for Pompey the year previously.

Obviously, Glen Johnson proved to be a shrewd move by Redknapp, but allowing O'Neil to leave was something that didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Even during Redknapp's first spell with Portsmouth, he never seemed to rate O'Neil. O'Neil had established himself in the side under former boss Graham Rix and seemed to have an incredibly bright future.

Redknapp, however, refused to bring him into the squad for anything more than bit-parts, as he loaned the player to Walsall and later Cardiff City.

And as Redknapp left the club and Velimir Zajec and, later, Alain Perrin came into the frame in an attempt to stave off relegation for another year, Gary O'Neil was brought back into the crucial role that he deserved.

Safety was earned and the new season began under Perrin with O'Neil firmly established as a first-team player again. A dismal start to the season, however, would lead to Perrin being dismissed and a return for Harry Redknapp.

This time, however, it seemed things would be different for the midfielder.

Portsmouth were firmly rooted in the bottom three when Redknapp returned, but it would be Gary O'Neil—serving as Dejan Stefanovic's vice-captain—who would lead by example, scoring some of the most crucial goals in Pompey's great escape and often captaining the side.

Gary O'Neill had a stunning season that year, and was absolutely beloved by Pompey supporters. But the following 2006/2007 season wouldn't be as productive for him, despite the best season the club had since the 1950's.

While remaining solid, O'Neil couldn't meet his goalscoring exploits of the past season.

And yet again, Harry Redknapp decided to dispatch of his services.

In the north-east, Gary O'Neil hasn't scored a lot of goals, but has played quite well in Gareth Southgate's midfield and has endeared himself to Boro fans in the two seasons he has spent there.

With Pompey's midfield spread thin, the passion and drive that O'Neil showed for the club in the past is exactly what we need back.

While Southgate has said that he doesn't intend to let players leave the club this month, a bid of slightly more than we received for O'Neil two seasons ago will almost certainly convince Boro to let O'Neil return.

As a Portsmouth supporter, I would be chuffed to see Gary O'Neil return, and fully believe that he can return to the form of his impressive 2005/2006 season.

Most importantly, however, is that Gary O'Neil has an important trait you don't often find.

It is in the "big games"—games that truly matter, games that are must-win, and against big sides—that Gary O'Neil has always had his finest hours.

He is a leader on the pitch, and will be welcomed back by Portsmouth supporters if the club can agree a deal with Boro.