Harry Redknapp missed his pre-match media call ahead of Saturday's clash with Aston Villa - to suggest he is still hurting after his arrest.Police raided the Portsmouth manager's home at Poole, Dorset, last Wednesday while he was still returning from a Champions League game in Germany.

One of five men arrested - the others were Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie, former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, former Portsmouth player Amdy Faye and agent Willie McKay - Redknapp attended Chichester police station the same day to answer questions on the subject of a 2003 transfer deal for Faye but was released on bail without charge.

"Another meeting" was put forward as the reason for him missing the latest pre-match press conference at lunchtime today. Redknapp has not missed one since last August (transfer deadline day).

A Fratton Park source said: "Harry has certainly had enough of all this for a while. He's been through a hell of a time and we are all suffering and sympathising with him."

Redknapp, in fact, did his normal after-match interview following Pompey's goalless home draw with Everton last Saturday - three days after the arrest - although he would not talk about anything other than the game.

And today he left the preview of Saturday's Aston Villa match to first-team coach Joe Jordan.

The Scot believes a growing maturity in the Pompey squad is behind their climb into the top six this season - and, of course, a major influx of quality.

But he admits the toughest tests are still to come - including Villa who, despite last Saturday's blip against Arsenal, are showing real signs of success under manager Martin O'Neill.

Portsmouth go to Villa Park looking for an extension of their Premier League club record of 10 consecutive unbeaten matches - six of them away from home - and Jordan said: "It is going to be a real test because Villa are looking a good team, a settled team and that breeds consistency.

"But we will go there with a lot of confidence because it is perfectly clear now that we've got a better squad than last season - and we did really well then.

"We've come through some hard games and the players can now look at themselves and say that, well, it wasn't too bad. But you still can't hide the situation that there are more hard tests to come.

"We lose four key players for up to six weeks when the African Nations Cup starts in January, and the Christmas and Easter games programmes, when there is always a quick turn-over of matches, will be difficult too.

"The first target is still 40 points for safety although we've got 27 already but I'm happy trying to get into Europe with Pompey and the manager has made it clear to the players he believes they are good enough to improve on last season's ninth place."

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