Source: Team_Talk
O'Hara facing Wembley dilemma
Portsmouth's Jamie O'Hara admits he has a big decision to make as a stress fracture in his back threatens to rule him out of the FA Cup final.[LNB] Jamie O'Hara admits he has a big decision to make later this week as a stress fracture in his back threatens to rule him out of Portsmouth's FA Cup final date with Chelsea at Wembley.[LNB]The on-loan Tottenham midfielder, who was ineligible for the semi-final win over his parent club, needed a pain-killing injection to take part in Pompey's last Premier League match at Everton yesterday.[LNB]Despite the off-field problems at the financially-stricken Fratton Park club, O'Hara has enjoyed his loan spell, becoming one of the most influential players in Avram Grant's squad.[LNB]The 23-year-old, however, does not want to risk either the team's chances or his own long-term health by taking any chances to make the Wembley showpiece.[LNB]"I played 45 minutes yesterday and there was a bit of pain, and I am having another injection tomorrow to hopefully clear it up for the game on Saturday," O'Hara said.[LNB]"I am not sure what is going on, and will have a big decision to make towards the end of the week whether to pull myself out of it for the sake of maybe a longer-term injury, or to just go for it and see what happens.[LNB]"I would love to play, but it has come to the point now where I am really struggling and can't do anything, which is the most frustrating thing.[LNB]"I can get around, but it is not how you want to be going into a cup final."[LNB]O'Hara maintained: "To play in such a massive game, I would not want to jeopardise the team by going out there half-fit.[LNB]"I have got two fractures on the lower part of my spine and if it was any other time of the season, it is eight weeks out.[LNB]"After this, I will be out for a couple of months, and then it will just be rest because it is a stress fracture.[LNB]"We have had a scan already, and Spurs are looking towards a longer-term injury. Speaking to the doctors, it can be a serious one if you keep playing on it, and you could be looking at a year out.[LNB]"I have got to be careful what I do, but with the injections, the doctors said one more game would not be a problem.[LNB]"I have been speaking to Spurs and they are not wanting to stop me in any way, but are looking at it longer-term going back.[LNB]"I am going to miss some of pre-season, and will be trying to get myself right for the start."[LNB]O'Hara collected a clean sweep of some nine Player-of-the-Season awards but does not want to see his last appearance made for all the wrong reasons.[LNB]"I have had a great season, winning all those awards, and I would not want to go into such a massive game for the club half-fit," he said.[LNB]"On a personal basis, it is great playing at Wembley and would be an occasion, but I don't want to kill myself long-term.[LNB]"I will have a sit down with the manager and see. I might just have to play the last half-hour and see how it goes.[LNB]"If it does settle after the injection tomorrow, then I will be all right to play, but at the moment, it is too early to call.[LNB]"The final decision will be mine with the manager. We will have to sit down at the end of the week and decide what we want to do."
