TEAMtalk

Portsmouth v Leeds preview

Friday 24-February-2012 09:54

Striker Dave Kitson joins the list of absentees as he serves a one-match ban for his red card at Barnsley last week, and top scorer Erik Huseklepp on Thursday moved to Birmingham to ease the financial problems at Fratton Park.

Skipper Liam Lawrence (calf), fellow midfielder David Norris (hernia), winger Kelvin Etuhu (hamstring) and forward Luke Varney (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Veteran frontman Kanu (back) and defender Greg Halford (knee) are also doubts.

Defenders Aaron Mokoena, Tal Ben Haim and Ricardo Rocha and midfielder Joel Ward have been carrying knocks but will have to be patched up again, while rookie midfielder Scott Allan has arrived on loan from West Brom.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock will be without midfield pair Andros Townsend and Fabian Delph for his first game in charge.

Townsend, on loan from Tottenham, has opted to cut short his stay at the club and Delph has returned to parent club Aston Villa after being been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury sustained in the recent defeat at Coventry.

Winger Robbie Rogers is also doubtful after suffering concussion. The USA international was stretchered off shortly after making his first appearance for the club in last weekend's win over Doncaster.

Defenders Paul Connolly and Leigh Bromby, midfielder Lloyd Sam and forwards Ramon Nunez and Billy Paynter are among those who could return to contention after featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Hull this week.

Warnock, who has no other new injury or suspension worries, will want to launch his tenure at Elland Road with victory to keep his side in touch with the play-offs.