O'Neil ideal for Potters - Clarke

O'Neil scored in Middlesbrough's 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday

Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil would be a perfect addition to the Stoke City squad, according to their former captain Clive Clarke.

The 26-year-old is expected to leave Boro following their relegation.

"He's a fantastic player and he'd fit into the Stoke way of playing," Clarke told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's got bags of energy, a lot of quality and he always gives 100%. I think he's a central midfielder who could add a lot to Stoke City."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis gave O'Neil his debut as a 16-year-old at Portsmouth in January 2000.

He left Fratton Park in the summer of 2007 to join Middlesbrough for £5m, and has made 53 Premier League starts during his two seasons at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough's 11-year stay in the Premier League ended on Sunday after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham, a game in which O'Neil scored his fourth goal of the season.

Clive Clarke played 262 games in nine seasons with Stoke City

Meanwhile Clarke, who left Stoke to join West Ham United in 2005, thinks the Potters need to push on next season after finishing 12th in their debut Premier League campaign.

The 29-year-old added: "With the teams that are coming up, and with the likes of Hull that are still in the league, I think Stoke need to start looking towards mid-table.

"They've got a decent squad, they need to add to it, but the money is in place to do that.

"They've got a good manager too, and they need to be aiming further up the table because the teams that are coming up will struggle, as they always do."

Clarke's career came to an end in August 2007, when he suffered heart failure playing in a game for Leicester at Nottingham Forest, and was advised to retire.

He made over 250 career appearances and won one international cap for the Republic of Ireland.