Portsmouth Football Club News

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

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Redknapp vows to keep James

23 Apr 2007 - 08:44:08

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Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp paid tribute to David James after the veteran goalkeeper broke David Seaman's clean sheet record in Sunday's goalless draw at Aston Villa.

The 36-year-old kept his 142nd shot-out against one of his former clubs to beat the ex-Arsenal shot-stopper's record.

Redknapp said: "We want to keep him here. He will play well into his 40s. I've got absolutely no doubt about that. The condition of the man is scary.

"He has got the body of an 18-year-old. It is frightening. I've never seen anyone train and work as hard as David in my life.

"He is on the training pitch an hour after everyone else. He is watching videos of his performance. He is a fantastic professional and a great character to have around.

"If he is not in the best two or three keepers in England, I don't know where they must be. He is top, top class.

"I've said it before but I find it astonishing he is not in the England set-up. Steve McClaren has obviously decided to move on and change things around and he is not in his plans.

"But, in terms of his ability, he is as good as anyone."