MIDDLESBROUGH captain Gary O’Neil has been told to rest for ten days after taking another course of treatment on his injured knee.

O’Neil has attracted interest from Premier League clubs during the summer, with Stoke City known to be at the head of those interested in taking him from Teesside.

But with Middlesbrough looking for around £4m, there have been no takers for the midfielder ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday and he should be back in a red shirt soon.

Boro boss Gordon Strachan admits every player has his price, but envisages that O’Neil will be available for selection after the international break and for the trip to Queens Park Rangers on September 11.

“Gary has had an injection in his knee and then has to rest so he will miss Saturday.

After that we will see how well he recovers,” said Strachan, ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Barnsley.

“I would imagine he will be here beyond the transfer deadline, but I do not know if there are going to be offers.

If we get £10m, I will say ‘off you go, all the best’, but I do not think that is going to happen.

“I do not see any reason why he will be anywhere else come Wednesday. There is not enough money around.

“It will be great having Gary back because he has not played much this season.”

O’Neil has only played 45 minutes, at Leicester, in the opening five matches of the season as Boro have been hit with injury problems in the middle.

And with Nicky Bailey struggling, having played in the Carling Cup defeat at Millwall despite a groin complaint, Strachan could be forced to change his formation once again.

In both of Middlesbrough’s cup ties this season, he has adopted a lone striker system, with two wide men tucking in as supply forwards ahead of three midfielders.

That shape has led to them being more attractive on the eye, although results have remained indifferent – a word which the Scot feels describes their start to the campaign.

Strachan claims there could still be some tinkering ahead, but he insists the more orthodox 4-4-2 system could still be around for some time.

“We have been playing an old fashioned inside right and inside left in the cup,” he said.

“But we have not done that in the league yet. The Carling Cup has been good in that way, allowing us to test it out.

“But I watched Spurs the other night and everyone says Harry Redknapp could be England manager. There is no doubt about that. But everyone also says that 4-4-2 is outdated and Harry plays that all the time.

“So would Harry not get the job because he plays 4-4-2? They battered Manchester City and Young Boys playing 4-4-2. So Harry does not change it too often.

“What he has got is good players who keep the ball more than the other team. If you do that, then our system has a chance to breathe.

“Harry’s team finished fourth in the league and are in the Champions League with that formation.

“What does that tell the people who say 4-4-2 is out of date?”