Crisis management: Avram Grant
Portsmouth's
player crisis has plunged to new depths with the club facing the
prospect of only being able to name three substitutes for Tuesday's
vital Premier League clash with West
Ham.
The cash-strapped side fielded only five of the seven subs
allowed in their FA Cup win over Sunderland on Saturday and
injuries to Michael Brown and Papa Bouba Diop have added manager
Avram Grant’s woes.
Grant named 17-year-old Lennard Sowah among the subs in the 2-1
win but will not call on other youth teamers simply to fill the
bench.
Pompey cannot bring in emergency loans due to a transfer embargo
and they have four players who have been on duty in the Africa Cup
of Nations.
Tommy Smith may be back but Jamie O’Hara has returned to Spurs
after his loan deal expired and Mike Williamson will not feature
because he is in talks with Newcastle.