Toon's Central Midfield Problems Solved!

Last updated : 12 December 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Guthrie's injury last Saturday meant Kinnear had suffle his central midfield at half-time, and we all know the result.

Stoke came back from 2-0 down to snatch a point at the death, as the Potters ran the show from midfield in the second-half.

Not only Guthrie and Butt, but Kinnear could see the return of Damien Duff too.

Kinnear: "It wasn't ideal against Stoke on Saturday in midfield. We'd already lost Nicky and Damien before the game and then Danny got injured in the first-half.

"But looking ahead to Sunday we'll probably have Butt and Guthrie back and maybe, just maybe, Duff as well.

"So hopefully we'll be going down to Portsmouth with the strongest side that is available to us, apart from Joey Barton.

"It will be a tough game, we know that, but I always go into matches looking to win and Sunday will be no different."

The match will be shown on Sky Sports 1, coverage starts at 1pm.