Pompey facing Wembley dilemma

Apr 2 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp faces a Wembley dilemma if reliable Icelandic left-back Hermann Hreidarsson is ruled out by injury from Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against West Brom.

Redknapp may also have to revamp his attacking formation if another fitness doubt, John Utaka, fails to respond to treatment to a damaged hamstring.

Hreidarsson has had three stitches in an Achilles wound while winger Utaka has a pulled hamstring, the legacies of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wigan.

The problems are regarded as so serious that both players will receive treatment for the rest of the week at a local hospital, using an oxygen chamber to speed up their recoveries.

But while Redknapp has plenty of forward options – despite being without cup-tied marksman Jermain Defoe – that is not the case in defence where Noe Pamarot, the natural deputy for Hreidarsson, is still out with a knee injury.

Former Arsenal star Lauren could be recalled but his natural position is on the right and on-loan French defender Lucien Aubey has played only twice in the first team since switching from Lens in January for the rest of the season – once as a substitute.

He has also been troubled by a hamstring problem.

Redknapp said, “Hermann is determined to play but he had a big hole in his foot and it’s nasty. John’s injury is a dangerous one too. If we rush him back too soon he could do more damage and be out for weeks.”

The Pompey boss is trying to make light of match-winner Defoe’s absence but admits, “He’s not available and we’ve got to get on with it. Of course we are going to miss him, he’s scored eight goals in seven games but we’ve played most of the season so far without him and done well.

“We’ve got Kanu, Milan Baros and David Nugent who could all come in. So we are OK. Utaka is probably our only out-and-out winger but there are several ways we can play.”

Kanu might even be employed as a lone striker at the start against Championship promotion-chasers Albion – as he was when Pompey fielded a 4-5-1 formation for their shock 1-0 quarter-final win at Manchester United – but Redknapp has faith in Baros, who is yet to score in 10 games.