Benjani Returns To Portsmouth

Last updated : 13 August 2011 By Jim Bonner

Portsmouth made the shock announcement that Benjani Mwaruwari has signed for the club before kick-off against Brighton today.

The Zimbabwe striker was something of a cult hero during his first spell at Fratton Park before being sold to Manchester City in 2008. The 33-year-old has signed a one-year-deal after being released by Blackburn in the summer.

There's an old saying in football - "never go back" but given the fact that Pompey's squad is so short in numbers and Steve Cotterill is desperately crying out for a striker, I think this may well be an inspired signing.

It has certainly given the fans something to cheer about but only time will tell if Benji has still got it after three-and-a-half years away from Portsmouth.

His pace has surely deteriorated in that time but when he wasn't missing sitters for us he was capable of some quality strikes and could also score with his head too, which is something this Pompey team is lacking right now.

Hopefully his arrival can give Pompey a much needed boost after what was another poor result at home today, but more on that debacle in the match report to come...