Stefanovic eyes early return

Portsmouth captain Dejan Stefanovic is poised to shock doctors by returning from ankle surgery before the end of the month, six weeks ahead of schedule.

The 31-year-old is determined to return in time to help Portsmouth in their fight to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premiership.

He underwent an operation in February and was told he would be unable to train again until May.

Although the Serbo-Montenegrin remains on crutches, he is hopeful of being ready to play against Arsenal on March 25.

“I have been working very hard and my ankle is better than expected,” said Stefanovic.

“My specialist seemed to think I would be out for three months, which would have been the end of the season, but I will be back well before then.

“I want to play every single game and keep Pompey in the Premiership.”

However Portsmouth will be without midfielder Richard Hughes until the closing weeks of the season after he fractured his right shoulder.

He faces six weeks out with the injury he sustained in the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, when it was thought he had merely suffered a strain.

Record signing Benjani Mwaruwari is in line to face Manchester City on Saturday, however, after missing Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa with a groin injury.

Harry Redknapp has also given defender Noe Pamarot and midfielder Salif Diao added incentive to shake off their hamstring injuries.

“We’ll need some size about us against a team like Manchester City and I’d hope to be able to play both these two,” said Redknapp.

Meanwhile, reserve goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and playmaker Andres D’Alessandro could also both return after missing the Villa game after becoming fathers.

D’Alessandro’s wife gave birth to their second son, while Ashdown’s partner produced a daughter.