Dyer Pleased He Won't Be Facing Lua Lua and Robert

Last updated : 30 September 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

Kieron Dyer is the only one of United's injured players expected to return at Fratton Park, and the England midfielder is relieved Newcastle old-boys Laurent Robert and Lomana LuaLua will not be playing.

LuaLua is out with malaria while Robert will not be able to repeat his team-mate's performance of 18 months ago when he scored for Portsmouth when on loan from Newcastle. A change in Premiership rules since means Robert, who is technically on loan at the South-Coast club, is prohibited from playing.

"If you take those two out of the team, you are removing two potential match-winners," Dyer commented.

French centre-back Jean-Alain Boumsong added: "We all know what Laurent can do, so it will be good for us that he doesn't play. He would have been highly motivated against us, so it is one less threat for us."