Premier League: Blackburn Rovers v Middelsbrough - Peter White's big match preview

BRYAN Robson already has cause to give thanks that a marathon two-year watching brief on Norwich City's Keith O'Neill finally paid dividends just before the transfer deadline.

For, hit by suspensions to three key players in the build-up to tomorrow's game against Blackburn Rovers, the Middlesbrough manager could well maximise the versatility he believes he has bought in the shape of O'Neill for a modest £700,000.

The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international arrived on Teesside with stars in his eyes.

And he is already anticipating the prospect of lining up alongside players such as Paul Gascoigne who is set to return to the Boro side at Ewood.

"It's fantastic," said O'Neill.

"He's one of the best central midfielders England has ever had.

"But there are a lot of very talented players at the club."

Ironically, Gascoigne might not have been on the agenda for Ewood if Boro had been at full strength tomorrow.

For the former England ace has missed the last two matches when the Teessiders ended a winless sequence of nine matches by inadvertently giving Rovers' safety hopes a lift with victories over Southampton and Nottingham Forest. He looks certain to return, however, at the expense of suspended Robbie Mustoe. But it is the addition to the squad of O'Neill - yet to start his first game for Middlesbrough - which increases Robson's options.

The Irish international is normally recognised as a winger and, if he was to be handed that role, it would mean Robson abandoning the three-man central defence he has employed all season.

His options will probably leave Rovers guessing as to the formation he will plump for at Ewood and how to better it.

But the Boro boss admitted: "I want that adaptability within the squad if I want to change the system now and again.

"Now Keith gives me the other option.

"Even a lot of foreign teams have gone back to playing four at the back. But you can only use the system that suits your players. "Keith's got good pace and he's got a good physique for the position he plays in. But, in saying that, he's a utility player. He can play a few roles."

One of them could be as a left wing back should Robson stick with three central defenders - using Dean Gordon and back-from-injury Gary Pallister to replace banned Gianluca Festa and Steve Vickers.

After two or three years of speculation while he starred at Norwich, O'Neill is simply eager to be handed his chance in the Premiership.

And the fact that he was linking up with Robson was a major factor in his move.

"He was my hero as a kid and it's a fantastic set-up here and a great club," he added.

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