West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
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Ben Haim blow for Pompey

31 Mar 2010 - 13:24:26

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Portsmouth's already threadbare squad is likely to be reduced further by the absence of Tal Ben Haim from their FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

The Israel defender has missed the last four games following the recurrence of a groin injury and he is unlikely to be fit in time for the April 11 showdown at Wembley.

The loss of Ben Haim comes just one day after defender Hermann Hreidarsson and striker Danny Webber were both ruled out for six months with serious Achilles and knee injuries respectively.

"Tal's been to see his national team doctor," coach Paul Groves told the Portsmouth News.

"He will be a big doubt. A lot are coming on to their rehab work but he is looking increasingly doubtful for the semi-final.

"Danny has ruptured his anterior cruciate and he is going to be out for a long period.

"'I've never known a period like it, not in my time here."

Goalkeeper David James, Papa Bouba Diop, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Marc Wilson, Nadir Belhadj, Tal Ben-Haim and Hassan Yebda are all major injury doubts ahead of the trip to Wembley next month.