Pompey take chance on Campbell

Portsmouth are ready to gamble on captain Sol Campbell’s fitness at Wigan despite the veteran centre-half’s ankles taking a battering on the plastic pitch in Moscow as England crashed to a Euro 2008 qualifying defeat against Russia.

Campbell, who has a history of Achilles problems, has not trained since returning from international duty and Noe Pamarot is on standby to deputise but manager Harry Redknapp wants to give his skipper every chance in the search for a fifth consecutive win.

Left-back Hermann Hreidarsson also needs a late check after Iceland’s defeat in Liechtenstein while striker Kanu and defender Linvoy Primus are still out with knee problems, leaving in-form Benjani Mwaruwari to lead the attack.

Provisional squad: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Benjani, Pamarot, Nugent, Taylor, Lauren, Traore, Pedro Mendes, Ashdown.