Pompey duo fit to play

Midfielder Gary O’Neil (thigh) and striker Benjani Mwaruwari (knee) are fit to return to the Portsmouth squad for Sunday’s game at Newcastle, but Matt Taylor is still a doubt after suffering a virus and skipper Dejan Stefanovic will continue at left back.

Stefanovic is likely to need a knee operation eventually but is playing on for the moment. Another blow for Pompey is that striker Andy Cole has an Achilles injury and could be out for a few weeks.

Reserve goalkeeper Dean Kiely has gone on loan for a month at Luton but Jamie Ashdown is back from a loan spell at Norwich and will be on the bench.

Team from: James; Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O’Neil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Kranjcar, Kanu, Lualua, Benjani, Thompson, Taylor, Fernandes, Hughes, Douala, O’Brien, Koroman, Ashdown (gk).