Kurt Stechman had the top part of his index finger cut off when it was slammed in a pub door just hours before the game against Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portugal.

The Pompey fanatic was rushed to a local hospital but insisted he go to the game and told medics to give him strong painkillers so he wouldn't miss his team play their first European match.

And despite doctors' concerns Kurt was back at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques ground just minutes before kick off.

The 40-year-old said: 'I was pretty impatient because I wanted to make the football match. When I said I had to go they couldn't believe it.

'My finger had fallen on to the floor after the door was slammed on it. Another had been broken and one badly bruised, but I had to get back to the match.'

The father of two added: 'I enjoyed the game, the painkillers and an injection they gave me must have been pretty strong because I wasn't in too much pain.'

Mr Stechman, of Cranleigh, Nutbourne, travelled back after the Uefa Cup clash and went straight to hospital at Chichester to get his fingers – one which was missing its top half – seen to.

His injuries were so severe that he was referred to East Grinstead Hospital, West Sussex, where there is a specialist hand unit.

The 40-year-old said: 'They did a skin graft. The top part of my index finger is completely missing now. It will never be the same again.

'The pain was worth it. I had gone a long way to watch Pompey play for the first time in Europe and I didn't want to miss it.'