Injury looks set to scupper O'Brien comeback

Portsmouth defender Andy O’Brien is losing his fight to return for the vital Fratton Park clash with Wigan amid fears his knee injury could be more long-term than first anticipated.

The Republic of Ireland centre-half has visited a specialist after suffering more pain in the joint and Pompey physio Gary Sadler, who suspects lateral ligament damage, said: “It is hard to predict when he will be back playing.

“He has some bone bruising and swelling as well after being kicked against Charlton.”

Manager Alan Perrin said: “By last Wednesday we thought Andy would be all right to play at Sunderland but the next day when he came in the injury had flared up again.”

There was bad news, too, for Pompey’s Croatia striker Ivica Mornar who damaged a hamstring in the opening game of the season against Tottenham – and saw his chances of making a comeback against their reserves tonight ruined by a waterlogged pitch at Havant.

But Sadler admits he is excited about Lomana Lualua’s comeback from malaria.

The winger, who collapsed after training having contracted the disease on international duty for Democratic Republic of Congo in late September, has missed six matches and will not play against Wigan on Saturday.

But Sadler said: “He is stepping up his fitness and running in the gym. He wants to come back as quickly as he can but knows he must not rush it.”

The 24-year-old has set his heart on facing Chelsea at Fratton Park on November 26 and after returning to light jogging last week, took part in a five-a-side match yesterday.

Laurent Robert, who does not figure at all on Sadler’s latest injury bulletin, has apologised to Pompey fans for leaving them with just four substitutes on the bench at Sunderland last Saturday.

After being fined two weeks’ wages of just under £50,000 he said “I’m sorry” no less than eight times in an interview with the the Portsmouth News and said he would be happy to sit on the bench against Wigan if manager Alain Perrin picked him for that role.

Robert still insists he “had a pain in his groin” before the Sunderland match and claims his only fault was revealing it too late to Perrin.

The 31-year-old, on a season-long loan from Newcastle, went to Paris on Sunday to seek specialist advice and was back in training on Monday.

Newcastle have made it clear they will not take the French star back after the loan spell has expired and expect Portsmouth to tie up a permanent deal with him next season.

Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric has appealed to fans not to react aggressively to the player the next time he appears for the team.