Further scans for Kamara

Portsmouth fear £2.3m (€3.3m) record signing Diomansy Kamara will be sidelined until after Christmas with a severe knee injury.

The Senegal striker is believed to have torn a medial ligament in his left knee after a challenge from Paul Scholes in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United at Fratton Park.

Further scans are being studied to see if there is also cartilage damage and manager Harry Redknapp admitted: “It is a nasty one.”

Kamara, for whom Pompey have confirmed they are making instalment payments to Italian club Modena following Redknapp’s astonishing recent admission that he did not know whether the player was signed or merely on loan, lasted just 32 minutes of Saturday’s game.

Scholes caught him late and high but so far there has been no word from the Football Association over the type of challenge they often review on video tape before deciding whether to punish the offender. Referee Neale Barry did not even book Scholes during the game.

Redknapp, when pressed soon after the game to comment on Scholes’ challenge, said: “Don’t get me on that. I’ve a good friendship with Alex (Ferguson). He’s a mate of mine and I don’t want to stir up trouble.”

The loss of Kamara, 23, would be a major blow for Pompey after he scored three goals in five starts.