Republic of Ireland international Keith O'Neill has been told to return to training early by Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson. O'Neill had a very unsettled season at the Riverside last season because of injury and Robson feels that it would be pointless waiting until the rest of the team return for pre-season on July 13. Instead, O'Neill must come back now and get himself in shape for the challenge ahead.

O'Neill is not the only player told to return early. Robson has also called on Dean Gordon and Paul Gascoigne to make the effort in a bid to be ready for the start of the new campaign.

Robson said: "All three were hit by injuries last season, so there would be no point in them doing nothing in the summer and then trying to come back with everybody else on July 13. They are all working at home and I expect to see them back in good shape."

Keith has a lot to prove this season. He burst onto the international scene when playing for Norwich Mick McCarthy picked him at every opportunity in his early days as Irish manager.

O'Neill repaid the faith shown in him with a string of fine performances in the green but lately he is the forgotten man of the Irish set-up. McCarthy is making a habit of leaving him out of squads even though he has impressed everybody at 'Boro with his flexibility.

When he did play for the Riverside club last season he was mostly utilised as a wing-back, while with Ireland he was used as a forward. He needs to settle into a position and try to hold it down for a season to push his way back into McCarthy's thoughts.