'It's an honour' - Portsmouth summer transfer target revelling in new role which was factor in failed Blues approach

The ‘honour’  - as the Australia international put it - of being named the Belgian Pro League side’s skipper for the 2024-25 campaign was a factor in the Blues’ decision not to continue their long-standing interest in the midfielder.

Les Rouches’ choice to promote the 26-year-old to the position after just one season at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne explained why Pompey never received any encouragement to persevere with their pursuit of the former Burnley and Melbourne City player.

The Fratton Park outfit saw advances for the defensive midfielder turned away back in June, prompting sporting director Rich Hughes to switch his attention to engine-room alternatives.

That led to Andre Dozzel, Abdoulaye Kamara and Freddie Potts being brought in to bolster the Blues’ midfielder options. And it seems Pompey were right in their decision to look elsewhere, with O’Neill delighted with his loftier position in the Standard Liege ranks.

Speaking ahead of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Bahran on Thursday, the 26-year-old told socceroos.com: ‘We've started the season quite well and to be named captain of such a big club in Europe is something that I don't take lightly and it's an honour.

‘The manager, the sporting director and myself sort of just had a meeting before the season kicked off and told me that I'd be the club captain for the season.

‘I really enjoyed my time when I was at Melbourne City (where’ Pompey interest in O’Neill first emerged), a place where I developed a lot, and then obviously moving overseas, you have to grow up in certain areas, and you're away from home. I think overall, I've improved as a footballer and obviously now being captain as a leader as well.’

Follow the latest Pompey headlines and sign up for our free football newsletter - find out more

Since being named captain of Liege, O’Neill has started and played the full 90 minutes of each of his club’s six Jupiler Pro League games. He was also named in the Socceroos’ starting XI for their international against Bahrain - a match that also saw Kusni Yengi pick up his first start of the season.

At present, Liege are 10th in the table after two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six games of the season.