Pennant set to return for Pompey

On-loan Jermaine Pennant is available to Portsmouth’s caretaker-manager Paul Hart for tomorrow’s clash with Manchester City after missing last Saturday’s defeat by parent club Liverpool.

Niko Kranjcar, a substitute in that match, could also start at Fratton Park despite hinting he could quit Pompey to join “a bigger club” in the summer.

Midfielders Papa Bouba Diop (knee), Richard Hughes (hamstring) and reserve goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown (ankle) are still out but Armand Traore (thigh), Marc Wilson (hip) and Younes Kaboul (ankle) are fit again for the day’s only Premier League game.

Hart also has the option of giving Theofanis Gekas a debut after the Greek striker – on loan from Bayer Leverkusen – was an unused sub against Liverpool last week.

Team (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Basinas, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Nugent, Crouch, Mullins, Kaboul, Wilson, Traore, Gekas, Cranie, Lauren, Little, Utaka, Begovic.