O'Neil was a trainee with Portsmouth

Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil remains confident they can contest for a play-off spot between now and the end of the season.

Boro are five points adrift of the Championship play-offs with 11 games to play but the 26-year-old believes they can make a late bid.

"It's definitely still achievable," O'Neil told BBC Tees.

"The league's not over yet, we've got 11 games left and if we win eight or nine we'll finish in the top six."

Middlesbrough face Championship leaders Newcastle in the Tyne-Tees derby at the Riverside on Saturday.

The Magpies visit Teesside having netted 16 goals in their last five games but O'Neil believes Boro can match their north-east rivals.

"It's a fantastic derby, so I'm sure the fans will be looking forward to it," he said.

"It's a great chance to stop this little run Newcastle are on.

"They seem to be beating everyone easily so it's a great chance for us to have our say, although we're a long way behind them in the league."

O'Neil admitted he always expected the Magpies to be a force in the division this season, having retained players including Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith in their squad from last season's Premier League campaign.

"I was more surprised they got relegated to start with, they're a Premier League team," he said.

"There's not a squad in the league really that can compete with it.

"Newcastle are the ones who have got 14 or 15 players that have all got decent Premier League experience so I'm not too surprised they're doing well.

"But it's a big game for us and hopefully we can get three points."

Middlesbrough lost the season's corresponding fixture at St James' Park by 2-0 in December.

O'Neil has featured in three Tyne-Tees derbies in his time with Middlesbrough but is yet to end up on the winning side having lost twice and drawn the other game.

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