Portsmouth's former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe will miss the chance to play against his old club at Upton Park on Tuesday night.Defoe, scorer of eight goals since his £7.5million transfer from Tottenham, also missed Pompey's FA Cup semi-final triumph over West Brom because he played for Spurs in an earlier round.

But Defoe was told on Monday his grandmother had died and was due to fly out to the Caribbean to attend the funeral.

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp said: "Jermain was close to his grandmother and he is going as soon as he can."

Kanu, who scored the semi-final winner against Albion, is being rested for the West Ham match, providing David Nugent with an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Redknapp's team for next month's final.

Nugent, a £7million signing from Preston, is still looking for his first league goal for Pompey and will partner Milan Baros in attack.

Redknapp will again be without right midfielder John Utaka because of a hamstring injury so Papa Bouba Diop deputises once more.

Defender Hermann Hreidarsson could make way for Lauren while he rests an Achilles. Linvoy Primus( knee) and Noe Pamarot (ankle) remain sidelined.

Pompey (from): James, Ashdown; Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Lauren, Aubey, Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Davis, Mendes, Hughes, Baros, Nugent, Kanu.

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