By Alan G
September 8 2006

Latics ‘keeper Chris Kirkland is fit to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park after withdrawing from the England squad earlier in the week with sciatica. Svetoslav Todorov, on loan from Pompey, is ineligible under league rules, and with Henri Camara (thigh) and Lee McCulloch (knee) both struggling, 18-year-old David Cotterill - a £2million signing from Bristol City on transfer deadline day - may be handed a debut. Midfielder Kevin Kilbane, another deadline-day buy from Everton, is suspended for one game following a sending off against Aston Villa whilst with the Toffees. Pedro Mendes returns to Portsmouth’s midfield just 16 days after being knocked unconscious by Ben Thatcher at Manchester City. Glen Johnson and Lomana LuaLua are also back in the squad after ankle injuries but only one of manager Harry Redknapp’s three deadline-day buys, on-loan Sporting Lisbon winger Roudolphe Douala, is likely to see immediate action. New £2.5million midfielder Niko Kranjcar arrived only yesterday after international duty for Croatia and veteran striker Andy Cole needs “a few more days” before his first start since a knee operation in February, however goalkeeper Dean Kiely is fit again. ________________________________________ Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Mwaruwari, Douala, Thompson, Pamarot, Hughes, O'Brien, LuaLua, Cole, Koroman, Kiely. Latics (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, De Zeeuw, Camara, Johansson, Heskey, McCulloch, Landzaat, Boyce, Scharner, Skoko, Baines, Cotterill, Cywka, Webster, Valencia, Pollitt. ________________________________________ Paul Jewell: "Portsmouth had a bad season last season by their standards. "But they have begun well after buying well, adding real quality in David James and Sol Campbell and they certainly won't struggle this year. "They are a formidable outfit and we are certainly going to have to be at our best to get a result." ________________________________________ Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)