Portsmouth Football Club News

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

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

James set for short lay-off

23 Nov 2009 - 13:13:25

Click To Enlarge

Portsmouth have recalled Asmir Begovic from his loan spell at Ipswich Town after David James sustained a calf injury in the warm-up for Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.

Pompey boss Paul Hart was forced to hand Jamie Ashdown a rare start at the Britannia Stadium and has revealed that James is likely to be sidelined for three weeks

Bosnia international Begovic was six weeks into a three-month loan spell with Roy Keane's Championship side.

Hart said: "David pulled his calf, it may be compensatory but we aren't sure yet. A calf muscle is probably about three weeks out. I think he'll be fit for the World Cup.

"With his knee, we're managing the situation at the moment and - up until now - he's been out on the pitch.

"He has to do some gym work to help him through it but he's been out there playing still. He's not been a real problem.

"He hasn't got a knee injury, he had an operation on it in the summer. There are some things we have to manage in terms of rehabilitation but he's been getting out there on the pitch. This is a calf injury."