Tough season ahead - James

Keeper David James admits Uefa Cup football could impact on Portsmouth's chances in the Premier League this season.

Pompey have been on the verge of qualifying for European football through the league for a couple of years, but made the breakthrough thanks to the FA Cup final victory over Cardiff in May.

And England international James feels winning a cup this time around could be their best chance of returning to Europe in 12 months' time.

He told The Mirror: "As we found in the FA Cup last season it is easy to take your eye off your league position.

"Arguably we could have finished fifth, but with the FA Cup we didn't and we ended up eighth."

James added: "Middlesbrough proved in 2006 you can go so far in the Uefa Cup but unless you win it, it becomes a bit of a fruitless task.

"It's going to be important we keep our players fit to do well in Europe and on the other front to do well in the league."