Source: Team_Talk
O'Hara wants Spurs first-team spot
Jamie O'Hara has warned he has no intentions of returning to Spurs as a bit-part player following a breakthrough season on loan at Portsmouth.[LNB] Midfielder O'Hara had pain-killing injections into a stress fracture in his back to play against Chelsea in yesterday's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat.[LNB]The 23-year-old - who was ineligible for Pompey's shock semi-final victory over his parent club at Wembley - proved a popular figure in what has been a turbulent campaign at Fratton Park, which ended in administration and relegation from the Premier League.[LNB]Indeed, O'Hara collected a clean sweep of the club's player of the season awards.[LNB]Having now tasted first-team football on a regular basis, returning to warm the bench at White Hart Lane has no appeal.[LNB]"They have some fantastic players at Spurs, but I will go back there and see what happens. It is up to the manager whether he wants to keep me," said the Spurs Academy graduate, who will need around eight weeks recovery time from his injury.[LNB]"No-one likes to sit on the bench. I have proven that I can play in the Premier League by what I have achieved this season.[LNB]"I have got to play football every week, the fans have been fantastic and I will really miss playing for them."[LNB]Pompey may have ridden their luck at times yesterday, especially during the first half, as Chelsea hit the woodwork no fewer than five times, with Salomon Kalou somehow striking the bar from two yards with the goal at his mercy.[LNB]Avram Grant's men were handed a glorious chance to take the lead just after the break when Juliano Belletti tripped winger Aruna Dindane in the penalty area.[LNB]However, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech made what turned out to be a crucial save from Kevin-Prince Boateng's poor penalty, before Drogba's stunning free-kick secured an historic double for Chelsea and Frank Lampard failed to convert a late spot-kick.[LNB]O'Hara reflected: "Everyone wrote us off. They thought we would get hammered, but we made a good account of ourselves and we could have nicked the game.[LNB]"We had one great chance in the first half, and then the penalty. Sadly we did not take them.[LNB]"But to lose 1-0 in a cup final against a team which won the league is an unbelievable achievement."[LNB]O'Hara was determined to play in the final, having been denied the chance of a Wembley appearance against Spurs.[LNB]"I put 100% in and tried to graft as much as I could and that's all I could do," he said.[LNB]"I tried to fight through the pain barrier because I didn't want to miss out on such a fantastic game.[LNB]"It is always heartbreak to lose a cup final, but it was also a fantastic achievement to get there, and the lads should all be proud of themselves."[LNB]The future of Portsmouth remains uncertain, as the club look to come out of administration ahead of the next season's campaign in the Coca-Cola Championship.[LNB]The majority of the squad are up for sale, while it remains to be seen whether Grant will stay on, with West Ham reported to be ready to offer the Israeli an instant return to top-flight management.[LNB]O'Hara said: "Avram has done a fantastic job since he came here, and there will be a lot of clubs who want to take him.[LNB]"He will have to make a decision. It is up to him, but I will miss working with him."[LNB]
