Portsmouth’s injury list is growing by the week with news that Davis, Diop and Diarra could face weeks on the sidelines following the weekend mauling at the hands of City.

Davis suffered a torn groin muscle, while Diop also sustained a similar injury to his hamstring. Both are set for around a month on the sidelines. To make matters worse, central midfielder Diarra has a knee injury and could have possibly suffered ligament damage.

“We’ve got a load of injuries. Diop has torn a hamstring, Davis has torn a groin muscle and they are out for a few weeks at least,” revealed the Redknapp.

“Diarra has got a bad knock on his knee and it could be the ligament, so we are desperately short in midfield.”

These injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for Harry who is already without Niko Kranjcar – he is set for return next month but is still weeks away. Richard Hughes will come back into the side for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup tie with Chelsea after getting over a shin injury and Belhadj will doubtless be called on to occupy a midfield role as he did at Eastlands at the weekend. Kaboul could also be called upon as an emergency midfielder. Both have short-term fantasy potential as defenders then, although off the back of a 6-0 defeat and with these injury problems, investing in Portsmouth’s defence right now would appear to be a brave move, despite having three home games over the next four fixtures.

Redknapp will have to hope that the international break in mid-October, will hand some breathing space to get some players fit for a return to action.