Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

James eyes weekend return

08 Dec 2009 - 16:40:34

Click To Enlarge

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James is hoping to make his latest return from injury in Saturday's Premier League clash with Sunderland.

James, 39, has sat out the last four games with a calf muscle injury picked up warm-up before the defeat at Stoke City last month.

His latest lay-off follows a knee injury which has led to doubts been expressed about his ability to retain the England number one jersey ahead of next summer's World Cup finals.

But James has revealed that he is ready to make his comeback on Saturday and has no concerns about his long-term fitness.

"I hope to be back this Saturday," he told the Portsmouth News.

"The injury was a minor tear. Because the word minor is there you presume you won't be out for long.

"Obviously any training you can't do impacts you. Last Saturday just gone was too soon so Sunderland will hopefully be the return.

"The knee has been an ongoing problem which we had pretty much taken care of.

"So to have a calf strain, which was essentially done in the warm-up against Stoke but had been building up in the week, was a setback.

"It was frustrating. I don't like being injured and I don't like having treatment, but it happened."