Loan signing up for grabs

By Tommo
August 18 2004

Portsmouth's England Under-21 captain and avowed Millwall fan Gary O'Neil is looking for a loan spell away from Fratton Park, but will only be given the chance if manager Harry Redknapp can sign a new midfielder before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Two un-named Championship clubs are believed to be keen on borrowing O'Neil, who impressed when leading England to a 3-1 win over Ukraine at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

O'Neil would surely jump at the chance to join his boyhood heroes Millwall if the chance arose, and perhaps he could play on the right wing (allowing Paul Ifill to utilise his pace upfront when he returns from injury).

Pompey boss Redknapp believes the experience of regular first-team football would be highly beneficial.

But Redknapp, who let O'Neil out to Walsall for a spell at the start of last season before the player was dogged by ankle trouble, said: "There's no way I could let Gary go on loan at the moment.

"I haven't got enough players. But if we get someone in, it's something we could do. I think it would do him good."