Source: Northern_Echo
O'Neil starts for Middlesbrough after deal is struck with Pompey
GARY O'Neil returns to the Middlesbrough starting line-up for this evening's game at West Brom after a deal was struck with Portsmouth.[LNB] The Boro skipper had missed the club's last two matches because of a clause in his contract that meant the Teessiders were due £1m to Portsmouth if he made his 100th appearance in a Boro shirt.[LNB] Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has spent the last week negotiating with the administrator currently running Portsmouth FC, and a pay-as-you-play agreement has been struck that will allow the midfielder to play in Boro's final three games of the season.[LNB] He returns to the starting line-up this evening in place of Jonathan Franks.[LNB] There is no place for David Wheater though, and the defender is unlikely to play again this season after damaging his ankle ligaments in training yesterday.[LNB] Wheater is replaced by Jonathan Grounds as Boro look to secure the victory they need to keep their play-off hopes alive.[LNB] WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson; Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Koren; Cox, Bednar.[LNB] Subs: Kiely (gk), Mattock, Miller, Barnes, Meite, Morrison, Slory.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones; Hoyte, McManus, Grounds, Naughton; Robson, O'Neil, R Williams, Arca; McDonald, Killen.[LNB] Subs: Coyne (gk), Taylor, Riggott, Lita, O'Shea, Miller, Franks.[LNB]
