Stefanovic in the frame

Portsmouth skipper Dejan Stefanovic is set to play his first match for three months in a charity game and could come back into Harry Redknapp’s Premiership line-up after the manager’s fury over Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Blackburn.

Redknapp is taking his entire first team to Surrey after being contacted about the plight of non-league Dorking’s captain Stewart Vaughan, 28, who is terminally ill with cancer.

Redknapp said: “We are only too pleased to go and play. We will give all the support we can. It makes the players realise how lucky they are.”

Stefanovic, 32, is back after a knee operation and Pompey’s defence clearly needs his defensive stability.

Redknapp ripped into his team after a shambolic performance at Blackburn and told them the three substitutions he made could have applied to almost anybody in the starting line-up.

Now he could be in the mood to wield the axe with top scorer Kanu, defender Djimi Traore, record-signing Mwaruwari Benjani and Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar all desperate to return to the starting line-up on Saturday at home to Chelsea.

Pompey coach Joe Jordan called the display at Ewood Park “as bad as we have played all season.”

And assistant-manager Tony Adams said: “Sol Campbell has been fantastic and Linvoy Primus has had the season of his life but when you raise expectations and then fall below them it is very disappointing.”

Recalling Stefanovic against Chelsea after such a long absence would have an element of risk but Redknapp is upset his side surrendered the chance to move back to sixth in the Premiership so lamely.

And with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all still to visit Fratton Park this season, Pompey’s European ambitions are looking decidedly shaky.

They have won only one of their last eight Premiership matches, losing four, and are down to eighth, their lowest position in the table this season.