Portsmouth's former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe will miss the chance to play against his old club at Upton Park on Tuesday night due to a family bereavement.

West Ham v Portsmouth (kick-off 19:45 BST)

Freddie Ljungberg is a doubt for the visit of Pompey with a hamstring problem but Freddie Sears (groin), Bobby Zamora (foot), George McCartney (hamstring) and John Pantsil (concussion) have all been in training and could feature.

Nevertheless, Alan Curbishley still has a long list of casualties to deal with, including Mathew Upson (calf), Craig Bellamy (surgery), Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Nigel Quashie (foot), James Collins (knee), Danny Gabbidon, Lee Bowyer and Matthew Etherington (all groin).

For Pompey, Defoe misses out to attend the funeral of his grandmother in the Caribbean so, with Kanu being rested, David Nugent will get the chance to prove himself.

John Utaka misses out with a hamstring injury so Papa Bouba Diop will continue to deputise for the Nigerian on the right, while Hermann Hreidarsson (Achilles) is expected to be given a rest. Lauren could slot in at left-back but Linvoy Primus (knee) and Noe Pamarot (Achilles) remain sidelined.

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