HARRY Redknapp doesn't make too many mistakes in the transfer market, but Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is hoping that Gary O'Neil will prove to be one that got away from the Pompey boss when he makes a return to Portsmouth this afternoon.

O'Neil is expected to be fit to take his place in Boro's starting line-up at Fratton Park, despite missing the Boxing Day defeat at Birmingham with a hamstring problem that also ruled him out of last weekend's 2-1 reverse to West Ham.

The 24-year-old spent eight successful seasons at Portsmouth before making a £5m move to the Riverside in August, and has emerged as one of the few success stories in an otherwise disappointing campaign on Teesside.

After tracking O'Neil for the best part of a year, Southgate admits he was surprised when Redknapp contacted him this summer to offer the midfielder's services.

And with his side in need of an instant response to back-to-back defeats that have plunged them to within two places of the relegation zone, the Boro boss is hoping his Portsmouth counterpart will be regretting his actions by 5pm tonight.

"There were times when I didn't think I was going to be able to sign him," said Southgate, who will be without the suspended George Boateng on the south coast.

"Gary is somebody that we trailed for a long time, so we were delighted to get him when we did.

"Harry wanted to be able to do something else in the transfer market and that played into our hands because he needed the money we were prepared to pay for Gary.

"He's been terrific since he came to the club. His energy has been a massive plus and his experience has really helped as well. Even though he's only 24, he has a lot of Premier League games under his belt.

"In the two games he's been out of the side we've really missed him on the right of midfield.

He's a natural right-sider and we don't have a lot of players who can fill that role as well as he can.

"He's started running again, so that's hopeful. He's obviously desperate to play but we have to make sure that sentiment doesn't play a part in our judgement.

We can't allow sentiment to cost us a player because of injury."

O'Neil is unlikely to be the only change to the side that lost at St Andrew's on Wednesday, as defender Robert Huth is also expected to return to the starting line-up.

Huth's last senior start came in April's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but with his ongoing ankle problem finally having healed, the Germany international was arguably Boro's best player when he made a secondhalf substitute appearance three days ago.

David Wheater is expected to be available this afternoon despite being withdrawn from the Birmingham game because of an illness, but H u t h ' s physical presence makes him favourite to line up against a Portsmouth side likely to include the imposing Sulley Muntari and John Utaka.

"Robert was very strong when he came on at Birmingham and he'll be better for having that half under his belt," said Southgate.

"He's not played a lot of match time recently, but he's definitely one that will come into consideration for the Portsmouth game.

"We're hoping that David will be okay, but Robert has definitely given me something to think about. I thought he was impressive at Birmingham and he's a strong, quick lad.

"Portsmouth are one of the biggest teams in the Premier League. They're strong in the air and strong in the tackle, and Robert obviously brings a big physical presence that could help us counter that.

"He's a threat in the opposition penalty area as well as a good player to have in your own, and it's good to see him giving us another option in the squad."

The Christmas period has proved to be a chastening one for Middlesbrough, with defeats to West Ham and Birmingham reversing the momentum that was generated by victories over Arsenal and Derby.

With Portsmouth having gone five home games without a win, this afternoon's match offers an opportunity to put further daylight between Boro and the bottom three.

But with morale having been dented by Wednesday's dispiriting display at St Andrew's, Southgate admits his players face an examination of their mental strength as they tackle their third game in the space of seven days.

"We have to make sure that we're strong in that dressing room," he said. "We have to be a strong group of staff and players together.

"We've had two disappointments now and we have to halt that slide before it turns into anything worse.

"We know there's a hell of a lot of hard work to be done. We might have had two wins recently, but we knew that didn't suddenly mean that everything was right.

"We've had two defeats now, and that doesn't mean that everything is wrong either. But we have to steer a course through the troubled waters we find ourselves in."