Midfielder Gary O’Neil has announced his desire to return to Portsmouth.

The 35-year-old was released from Bristol City after two seasons at the club. Such a move certainly has sentimental value, but it could only work for the club if he is signed on a pay as you play deal.

O’Neil made 192 appearances for Portsmouth between 2000 and 2007. He played a key role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2002/03 and their sensational escape from relegation in 2005/06. However, more than a decade on, he has found himself plagued by injury. A string of niggles limited him to 22 starts for Bristol City in 2016/17. Yet worse was to come. A hamstring tendon injury effectively ended his 2017/18 season in August. It limited him to just 56 minutes of first-team football.

Despite these injuries, he remains a good player. Bristol City trusted him with the captain’s armband regularly in his first season at the club. Having played in the Premier League just over two years ago, he would be more than capable of handling League One. Portsmouth would undoubtedly be bolstered by his skill and knowledge of the game.

Yet such experience and talent comes with a price tag attached. It is not a price tag that is defensible if the player is going to miss half the season with injury. Consequently, Portsmouth should look at creating a pay as you play contract that will insure them against having to pay for O’Neil to sit in the physio’s office.

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