Ageless Kanu turns back the years

NWANKWO KANU might have been treated as part of the Premier League furniture for longer than he can care to remember, but at least one man believes his contribution merits special mention.

Avram Grant, Portsmouth’s technical director – he will be confirmed as manager once a work permit wrangle is resolved – believes players with Kanu’s craft are a dying breed, after the Nigerian veteran’s cameo inspired his side’s precious win here.

Kanu, who still maintains he is 33, set up Hermann Hreidarsson to break the deadlock for Pompey at Fratton Park as his clever passes gave the Clarets defence a major headache when he came off the substitutes’ bench after 59 minutes.