Kanu Wants Pompey Extension

22 April 2009 06:09
Portsmouth striker Kanu is pleading with manager Paul Hart for the chance to turn his part-time cameo contributions into full-time commitment to the survival cause - starting against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The Nigerian, who scored Wembley winners in last season's FA Cup final and semi-final for Pompey, emerged from his now familiar substitute's role to nudge home another vital decider against Bolton on Saturday. The former Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal frontman has started just four games since Peter Crouch's arrival from Liverpool in the summer. And he is one of 17 Pompey players - including skipper Sol Campbell, midfielder Sean Davis and defender Herman Hreidarsson - whose contracts expire at the end of the season. But the skilful forward, who helped his side to a shock 1-0 cup quarter-final win at Old Trafford last term, insists: "I love Portsmouth and want to keep playing for them - next year as well. "I've always said that if you give me the chance I will do a good job for the team. Although the most important thing for me is that we win matches, it is difficult for me when I have not been playing much and have to rely on coming on in the last few minutes." Kanu's contract situation is complicated. He earned his present one-year deal via a clause in the agreement that he had to appear in at least 20 games during last season to activate a new one. It is believed similar conditions still apply this term and Kanu has already made 21 appearances - the bulk of them as a sub but also including four in the UEFA Cup where he scored his only other goal this season against Italian giants AC Milan. So far in this turbulent campaign for Pompey nobody is talking about new deals however - least of all interim boss Hart who is in charge until a reassessment at the end of next month, having stepped up in place of sacked Tony Adams in February. "All contracts will be discussed at the appropriate time but that is not now. I don't even know if I will be involved," said Hart, whose reign to date has produced three wins, four draws and just one defeat. Hart, the now part-time head of youth development at Fratton Park, points out: "I've three years on my contract in the role but only until the end of the season as first-team manager and that is as far as I am looking." He will be without star midfielder Niko Kranjcar through an ankle injury while defender Younes Kaboul is another big doubt with thigh muscle damage. But Hart is adamant: "We have still got players in a small-ish squad capable of coming in and playing at this level and we have prepared ourselves for United with a determination to get something there. "Certainly there is no way we will just lie down and roll over for them."

Source: Eurosport