Lauren to start for Pompey

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp will plunge new signing Lauren straight into Premiership action for his first game in a year against relegation-haunted Charlton today, the ex-Arsenal man replacing suspended captain Gary O’Neil in midfield.

Pompey are captained by Sol Campbell for the first time, but all eyes were on the first meeting between Pedro Mendes and Ben Thatcher after the former Manchester City defender was banned for eight matches for his elbow attack on the Portuguese star in August.