Adams glad to take old friend Pennant on loan

WINGER Jermaine Pennant has agreed to join Portsmouth on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season.

Pennant was expected to move to Pompey last week, after the clubs agreed terms for a player signed by the Reds for £6.7million (€7.2m) from Birmingham in July 2006.

The 26-year-old was subsequently reported to prefer to stay at Anfield, but Portsmouth yesterday revealed that they have got their man after all.

Manager Tony Adams explained Pennant, with whom the former England defender played at Arsenal, fits the bill perfectly at Fratton Park.

“I’ve known him for a long time,” said Adams.

“We were together at Arsenal a long, long time ago. He was the new kid on the block and a very exciting prospect.”

It was what Adams saw all those years ago at Highbury — as well as Pennant’s exploits more recently with current Pompey forward Peter Crouch when both were at Liverpool — that has convinced the manager he has signed a very good addition to his squad.

“He’s quick and technically very gifted. He can have a go at defenders,” Adams continued.

“I saw him play with Peter Crouch for Liverpool at Fulham last year — and he was constantly getting past their left-back and getting crosses in for Crouchie.

“That’s a good combination that I wanted to put back together.

“He’s going to put some good crosses in and, I hope, weigh in with a few goals himself.”

Pennant will find himself joining a relegation battle, however, according to his new team-mate Sylvain Distin.

Pompey earned a 1-1 draw at Tottenham with a much-improved performance on Sunday and have now conceded only two goals in their last four games.

But defender Distin insists they are already in trouble, with only three Barclays Premier League points separating them and bottom side West Brom.

“We are in a relegation battle right now. It’s not an enjoyable position,” he said.

“We will be okay if we play like we did at Spurs. But right now we are in a relegation battle. There is no point crying about it — we have to fight.”