Pamarot in line for shock return

Noe Pamarot could make Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth cup final squad if he impresses in a shock comeback chance against Fulham on Sunday.

Pamarot: Returned from injury
Pamarot: Returned from injury

The former Tottenham defender has been out since February 9 with knee ligament damage and the further aggravation of hamstring trouble, playing his first reserve match only on Tuesday.

But now skipper Sol Campbell (hamstring) is a major doubt for the final Premier League game of the season at home to Fulham.

And Redknapp, who has already ruled out a return for injured England goalkeeper David James until the Wembley showdown, admits he is seriously considering plunging Pamarot back in.

Although he could switch Hermann Hreidarsson from left-back to partner Sylvain Distin in the centre - and it worked well last time out when Pompey beat Aston Villa 2-0 - Redknapp admitted: "I don't really like putting two left-footed players together at centre-back.

"Noe is obviously short of match fitness but he did okay in the reserves the other night. Cover for our centre-backs has been a problem but he would certainly be able to provide it.

"And I won't take any risks with Sol less than a week before an FA Cup final. Only if he tells me he is 100% fit on the day will I play him against Fulham."

Pamarot, who has featured 21 times in the first-team this season and was on a run of six consecutive appearances when injured at Bolton, admits he is still targeting the final.

He said: "For me, it was very important to get through the 90 minutes in the reserves.

"It was also against Fulham and I managed to cross the ball for our winning goal in the last minute.

"Now maybe I can use a Fulham match again to show I can be in the Wembley squad. I'm fine. I don't feel the injury at all now. I have done a lot of running sessions to get fit."

Pamarot, who has been linked with a summer move to Celtic but insists he knows nothing about such reports, could come into a tense encounter.

Anything less than a win could put Fulham down and back into the Championship but Redknapp is desperate to take Pompey to Wembley on a high after three consecutive defeats.

He said: "That hasn't happened to us for a couple of years at least but winning is a habit I want to keep and I'm going to put out my strongest available side against Fulham."

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