Pompey hope for Johnson return

Portsmouth hope to welcome back Glen Johnson and Sulley Muntari for their New Year’s Day trip to Reading but Sean Davis, Noe Pamarot and Pedro Mendes are still severe doubts.

Manager Harry Redknapp’s dilemma, after Pompey took just one point from the last four games, is that striker Kanu and right-back Lauren looked tired in Saturday’s dismal 1-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough after playing two matches in four days having just recovered from injuries.