Middlesbrough FC

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• Manager:Tony Mowbray

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O'Neil ready for Boro battle

03 Mar 2009 - 11:55:49

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Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil says he is now fully focused on helping the club escape the threat of relegation, having been linked with a January exit from the Riverside.

The 25-year-old was linked with a return to Portsmouth just over a month ago, but remained on Teesside to aid Boro in their bid to beat the drop.

He told the Evening Gazette: "There's no situation. I'm desperate to keep Middlesbrough in this league.

"I'll play for this club as long as I'm asked to. The whole time I've been here the fans have been fantastic with me.

"I'm just desperate to do well for myself and the club, so hopefully we can finish as high up the table as possible."

O'Neil went on to admit that Saturday's 2-0 win at home to Liverpool was a massive boost to him and his colleagues.

He added: "Saturday was a big win for us, not many people expected us to get anything.

"But there's been a steady improvement over the last few weeks. We played well at West Ham, got a clean sheet against Wigan and won at home to West Ham (in the FA Cup) last week, so it's been a general progression and hopefully we can keep it going.

"We don't want to get carried away because it's only one win, but if we keep going in the next ten weeks like we have over the last three or four we will be fine."