The 25-year-old former Pompey midfielder is now one of the more experienced players in Gareth Southgate's young side and is prepared to try to lead by example on Saturday.

O'Neil helped Boro record their first Premier League win at Portsmouth last season, and would love to make it a double.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to the game because it's a chance to meet up with a lot of my old mates. But it's also an important game for us and we are determined to try to come back with something.

"There is a lot of experience in the Portsmouth team but we are a young side and we know that we have to make an impact from the start. We are still a developing team. We look at the transitional times that clubs like Aston Villa and Spurs have had and we feel we are a year behind them.

"With young players you never know and I know that I have to do the right things on the pitch and make sure that everyone stays focussed. We have to work for everything we get but we will go there confident of doing well."

his account

It was O'Neil who launched the shot which was parried by Pompey goalkeeper David James last year and fell for Tuncay to stab home Boro's winner.

The midfielder would love to go one better this year, saying: "It would be a dream to win at Pompey again and even better if I score. I've not scored yet for Boro and to be honest I don't mind who scores as long as we win, but I'll keep plugging away."

O'Neil may find it difficult to open his account on Saturday because he is now playing in a different role for Boro. He was utilised mainly on the right flank by manager Southgate last season, from where he regularly pushed forward and supported attacks.

But now O'Neil is playing in the middle, and he said: "The gaffer has explained what he wants from me in the middle and I know that I have to be more disciplined.

"I'm happy about that because I prefer to be in the middle and maybe I need to sit a little bit further back and make sure that I get the ball and bring other players into play."