Two steps forward, three steps back for Blues
Nadir Belhadj and Richard Hughes have provided Pompey with a welcome Wembley boost.
Now Aruna Dindane, Prince Boateng and Jamie O'Hara are giving Pompey an FA Cup final selection headache.
As ever, it's two steps forward and three steps back for Avram Grant ahead of the showpiece with Chelsea.
Yesterday, Belhadj returned from treatment in Qatar to step up his recovery from a hamstring, pencilling himself in for full training tomorrow.
As for Hughes, he is defying medical experts with his recovery from a hamstring problem after earlier being written off for May 15.
Sadly for Pompey, the other side of the coin now sees Dindane, Boateng and O'Hara emerge as doubts after appearing in the Premier League finale at Everton.
Dindane has a groin strain, while Boateng is waiting for results of a scan on an injured ankle. Both were on the treatment table yesterday.
For O'Hara, the outlook looks very bleak, with a stress fracture of the back leaving him in agony.
And with the Cup final just four days away, Marc Wilson (hamstring), Hassan Yebda (thigh) and Lenny Sowah (knee) were yesterday also absent from training.
For Paul Groves, time is running out as they agonise over the identity of the team to line up against Chelsea.
He said: 'People who aren't training at this moment will be a doubt.
'If they have a setback now there is no time to go back a step and start building themselves up.
'After Everton, one or two came out with bits and bobs and we are going to have to see how those are, which obviously hampers your preparation.
'Prince twisted his ankle, so we are awaiting the results of a scan to see how he is.
'Aruna has a groin strain and the level of strain is such it's going to be later in the week before the decision is made.
'As for Jamie, whether he will be available, only his body will be able to tell him.
'Obviously, he's going to be the best judge with regards pain and whether it is manageable.
'He has also got to ask himself whether it will be advisable for the long-term future for him if he does try to manage it.
'In an ideal world, you have a cut-off day where you say if you're not fit by this date then it's too late in the day.
'But there are variables to take into account.
'Some people have been out longer than others, the type of injury you've got as well, so there's a lot to take into consideration.'
The prognosis is not quite so bad for Yebda, who was today expected to return following treatment from abroad.
In addition, Sowah is expected to recover from a knee problem he picked up representing Germany under-18s last week.
Wilson felt a tightening of his hamstring in the Everton defeat, yet is another who is expected to declare himself available.
As for Belhadj and Hughes, the prospect is even more promising.
He added: 'Nadir was yesterday in for the first time and doing work ready to start training.
'All being well, as long as he can come through the tests he needs to declare himself fit, there is no reason why he shouldn't be available for Wembley.
'He has done mainly restricted training, with regards to the physical side in a controlled environment.
'But he's getting probably 75 per cent in terms of workout and has done twisting and turning.
'Obviously, the real test will be once he starts to do the ball work and he's free from the controlled work. We're looking at tomorrow.
'With Richard, when he originally did his hamstring it obviously looked as though he had no chance.
'But he's recovered quickly and is now doing rehabilitation work. He's still got a chance.
'Hopefully he will do some kind of training soon – he will have to because of the type of injury. You can't leave it to the last minute.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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