Pompey Preview

23 February 2001

The home game against Portsmouth looks set to mark Russell Hoult's first team debut for West Bromwich Albion. News is that Megson's frustration with Brian Jensen has led him to drop the Dane in favour of Hoult, ironically a former Portsmouth player himself. Besides, Hoult will know more about the capabilities of the players heading towards him...

Bob Taylor will continue to stand in for Lee Hughes, who missed the Crewe game on Tuesday with injury and now starts a two match ban for reaching the (in)appropriate disciplinary points level. Midfielder Michael Appleton (ankle), wing-backs Des Lyttle (knee) and Igor Balis (groin) and central defender James Chambers (hamstring) will all take late fitness tests with Adam Chambers, Jordao and Matt Carbon ready to keep their places in their absence; Larus Sigurdsson will also be looking to keep his place following his substitute appearance on Tuesday with Megson still seething about the defensive lapses that saw Crewe equalise twice.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, will either be in disarray following the appointment of Graham Rix - or will be trying their best to impress him. Striker Lee Bradbury and defender Scott Hiley are both suspended, and injured are Linvoy Primus, Justin Edinburgh, Kevin Harper, Ceri Hughes and Tom Curtis. Striker Lee Mills, the club's £1.2 million record signing from Bradford, has recovered from a knee ligament injury that has kept him out of action for four months. Rix said of the game: "It is a tough place to start but I hope the presence of a new manager will lift the players"

Previous Stories:

  19 February 2001:  Killer on the loose?

  16 February 2001:  Birmingham Preview

  26 January 2001:  Megson agrees new contract

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