Fit-again Finnan ready for return
STEVE FINNAN is poised to return to Pompey's side for the crucial clash with Stoke.
The experienced defender missed last week's thumping of Southampton with a tight groin.
In his absence – and with Anthony Vanden Borre still out with a hamstring problem – Hayden Mullins deputised in the right-back berth.
But first-team coach Paul Groves expects Finnan to be back for tomorrow's crucial Fratton Park fixture.
He said: 'Steve was very close to playing against Southampton, real touch and go, but we decided the best thing for him to do was sit out that one.
'He's had a slight tight groin and probably the weekend came around too quickly for him.
'With all the games we've had, that's been inevitable.
'Sometimes you give players until the last minute to try to give them every possible chance you've got.
'Some make it, some don't – but we expect Steve to be available tomorrow.'
Ricardo Rocha is also in the frame, having served a one-match suspension following his Sunderland sending off.
Unfortunately, Vanden Borre, Prince Boateng, Tal Ben-Haim and Aaron Mokoena are all still out through injury.
Recent casualty Tommy Smith is fit again, though, while Michael Brown has now returned to full training.
New recruit Dusko Tosic may also be on the bench, although he is not yet up to speed fitness-wise.
Groves is confident, though, Pompey's injury list is now well on the way to clearing up.
He added: 'Tal Ben-Haim went away last week for an operation on his groin and is on the road to recovery.
'Hopefully he's not going to be out for too long, but at the moment he is in the early stages of recovery.
'Aaron Mokoena has had a slight strain with his knee ligaments and also had a little bit of sickness, so he's had to stay away.
'Hopefully he's not too far away and hopefully he will be healthy when he comes back.
'As for Anthony Vanden Borre, he's been making progress following a hamstring injury.
'Obviously with a hamstring you have got to be very careful and you have to add a bit of caution over that.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
