Utaka given boost

Joe Jordan has told John Utaka and Pompey's other fringe men that their chance will come in the most intense period of the season.

Utaka, Kanu, Arnold Mvuemba, Noe Pamarot and Glen Little have all been sat on the sidelines for the most part of this campaign, but Jordan believes they have to remain focused and be prepared to stake their claim when the chance comes.

Portsmouth are preparing to enter the most intense period of matches in the campaign with their UEFA Cup involvement meaning that Harry Redknapp's side face five matches in the next two weeks.

Jordan said: "We have a demand coming up because we have a busy phase of games. We need players fit and we need to keep them fit.

"We need the players who are important to us because we have a lot of matches in a short period. There are those who are out of it because others are playing well.

"They are out of things because there are other players in the team.You can't play them all. But that's what competition is for.

"Some clubs trying to break into the top four don't have that player to come in when one of their big players gets injured or suspended.

"We have big players at this club. That's why we have brought them here."