Mendes back for Pompey

Pedro Mendes returns to Portsmouth’s midfield at home to Wigan just 16 days after being knocked unconscious at Manchester City.

Glen Johnson and Lomana LuaLua are also back in the squad after ankle injuries but only one of manager Harry Redknapp’s three deadline-day buys, on-loan Sporting Lisbon winger Roudolphe Douala, is likely to see immediate action as a probable substitute.

New £2.5m (€3.7m) midfielder Niko Kranjcar arrived only yesterday after international duty for Croatia and veteran striker Andy Cole needs “a few more days” before his first start since a knee operation in February. Goalkeeper Dean Kiely is fit again, however, and replaces teenager Nick Jordan on the bench.

Team (from): James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O’Neil, Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Mwaruwari, Douala, Thompson, Pamarot, Hughes, O’Brien, LuaLua, Cole, Koroman, Kiely.