DARREN ANDERTON has been linked with a move to Portsmouth after a new deal at Tottenham was put on ice.

The Southampton-born former England international is a free agent in the summer and expected to agree new terms by the end of the year.

But negotiations have been put on the back-burner and it now looks likely he will be allowed to leave if he can find a new club. Anderton is believed to be unhappy at the breakdown in contract talks and could return to his former club when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was keen on Anderton in the summer but the move failed to materialise. But he desperately needs reinforcements as the Division 1 champions are only a couple of points above the relegation zone.

More bad news for Portsmouth's shot-shy attack is that tomorrow's opponents, Middlesbrough, have not let in a goal for five games.

And the league clash with Portsmouth gives Steve McClaran's side the chance to equal the club's 28-year-old record of six successive top flight clean sheets.

In fact, Middlebrough have conceded only two goals in their last 13 games.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will put all thoughts of Carling Cup glory to one side as he sets his sights on the climb up the Barclaycard Premiership table.

The 31-year-old Australian was one of Boro's heroes as they edged past Everton and into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

Schwarzer, who had pulled off a fine save to deny substitute Leon Osman an extra-time winner at the Riverside Stadium, repeated the dose at the decisive moment to block the 22-year-old's spot-kick and pave the way for Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta to book the Teessiders' place in the last eight.

"The frustrating thing is that we have to play again in three days' time,'' he admitted. "We have to play against Portsmouth and it's going to be another very difficult game.

"But the most important thing for us is the league. We've played very well in the league of late and we need to keep that momentum running.

"We're very pleased to have got through in the cup, and to have done it without conceding a goal, so that does keep the momentum going.''

Boro's reward for their latest victory is a quarter-final trip to Tottenham, and although that represents another stern test, it is not one of which they will be afraid after losing on only one of six visits to Spurs in the Premiership since their return to the top flight.