INJURIES WILL FORCE REDKNAPP TO TURN TO LOAN DEALS

Last updated : 14 September 2002 By
Pompey's first fifteen - as the table tells you - are the best in the country outside the Premiership. However beneath this qualitity resides a lot of dross and Redknapp will look this week to bring in a few more players to shore up the injury problems.

Currently Foxe is out for a few weeks, Festa is playing with a pain killing injection, Richard Hughes will be out for three weeks, Burchill isn't fully fit, Jason Crowe is out for a fortnight, Todorov could be out for two weeks. Today Taylor, Robinson and Quashie all picked up niggly knocks that could escalate in the coming weeks.

Redknapp has made it clear that he won't be able pay a fee for anyone, but Mandaric may make an exception for a right wing back, a position that Redknapp is far from happy with. In midfield it is well documented that he is after Tim Sherwood, once the Spurs midfielder regains his fitness but it is upfront that is most worrying at present.

With Burchill and Todorov far from fit, Redknapp will look to bring in another striker this week. Names mentioned have been Ravenelli and Francis Jeffers from Arsenal. Both would be loan deals. A move for Deon Burton looks unlikey due to the fact that Derby would want a fee for the striker if we wanted to take him on a permenant basis.