Portsmouth, playing their last home match for five weeks, had Steve Stone back in midfield after injury to face Aston Villa.

Striker Diomansy Kamara, back from a one-match ban, and full-back Andy Griffin, out for four games with a hamstring injury, are set to return to the Portsmouth squad to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

Portsmouth 2 Middlesbrough 1

Portsmouth 2 Middlesbrough 1

A hectic countdown to the Barclays Premiership’s transfer deadline was in the offing as deals for Craig Bellamy, Andy Reid and Michael Dawson remained in the balance.

Craig Bellamy’s decision to snub a £6m (€8.7m) move from Newcastle to Birmingham was the most telling early development on transfer deadline day.

Portsmouth have signed two Greek players and, subject to international clearance, both will be available for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Southampton.