Portsmouth must cope without cup-tied stars - 7M sport

Portsmouth must cope without cup-tied stars

Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by PA

Portsmouth will be without cup-tied quartet Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O'Hara, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith for their Carling Cup fourth-round clash with Stoke.

However midfielder Michael Brown returns from suspension after sitting out the Hull draw following a red card against Tottenham on October 17.

Hermann Hreidarsson is still recovering from a foot tendon injury, while Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes have hamstring and hip troubles respectively.

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is determined to clear the storm clouds over Fratton Park by leading his side another step closer to the Carling Cup final.

Having taken just four points from 10 league games, Pompey are four adrift of safety but Hart has no intention of taking the Carling Cup lightly as he bids to turn the team's fortunes around.

He said: "I think that it is a serious competition that deserves the respect we're trying to show it.

"We have two opportunities; to win another football match and take another step towards Wembley.

"I think it's a worthwhile competition and we've approached it that way from the start. We ought to continue in that vein."

Asked whether he would prefer Premier League survival or a cup triumph, Hart added: "I think I would have to take the Premier League, but it's an opportunity, as is the FA Cup."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has made no secret of the fact he will start with a second string line-up.

Striker Mamady Sidibe is set to make his first senior appearance since undergoing surgery on a damaged cruciate ligament seven months ago.

Tuncay, who is yet to start in the Premier League for Stoke almost two months after a #5million move from Middlesbrough, will also be in a line-up likely to include Dave Kitson, Liam Lawrence and Danny Higginbotham.

Sidibe, one of the most powerful players in the air in the Barclays Premier League, has been out of action since March.

But Stoke boss Tony Pulis has been delighted with what he has seen of Sidibe on the training field and the 29-year-old played an hour for the reserves last week.

Pulis said: "Mama worked tremendously hard on his rehabilitation and has been back in full training since the start of the month.

"He's done everything the other lads have done on the training pitch and has come through with no ill-effects.

"Mama only came off in the reserve game because he had a dead leg and I know he would love to play tomorrow.

"He's a big, strong and very determined lad and I wouldn't be surprised if he got through 90 minutes for us.

"It's great to have him back with the group. Mama's played a big part in the success we've had and I'm sure he has another big part to play."

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