Toe injury to keep Cole out

Portsmouth striker Andy Cole could be set for an enforced spell on the sidelines because of a toe injury.

Cole, who has failed to keep a regular spot at Portsmouth this season, has had an injection to ease the pain but the former England striker is set to miss the Barclays Premiership clash with his old club Blackburn at Ewood Park on Sunday.

Manager Harry Redknapp recalled Cole for Pompey’s last game on February 19 against Manchester City, another of the player’s former clubs.

Cole left the field 20 minutes from time, before substitute Kanu’s late winner.

Redknapp had dropped him for the two preceding games after starting him in all the previous four.

Redknapp admitted: “He has had a problem with his toe and has been in pain, so we hope the injections settle it down.

“But I’ve got three others to choose from up front, Benjani (Mwaruwari), (Lomana) LuaLua and Kanu, so it’s not a problem.”

Benjani, the club’s record £4.4m (€6.5m) signing from Auxerre in January last year, is fit but did not even make the 16-man squad for the City match.

Redknapp insisted: “I love Benjani. He always works so hard, but on certain days you fancy one pairing more than another up front.

“It is a juggling act when you’ve got a decent squad.”