Harry Redknapp hopes Lassana Diarra's perfect cup record will make Portsmouth invincible when they travel to Preston in the FA Cup on Sunday.Twenty-three of the French youngster's 49 appearances in England have been cup ties and all have been won.

Looking ahead of his side's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Deepdale, Pompey boss Redknapp said: "I'm told Diarra has never lost any cup tie he has played in. I don't know details. That's just what I've been told.

"Let's hope it's a good omen for us because, especially if we keep getting the luck of the draw, who knows how far we can go?"

Redknapp insists he could not believe his luck last month when he had the chance to snap up the 22-year-old Diarra, now a fully-fledged France international who should eventually succeed Chelsea veteran Claude Makelele in Les Bleus' first-choice line-up.

At £5.5million, it may not have appeared much of a bargain, with Arsenal paying Chelsea just £2million for the same player in August before consigning him largely to the bench.

But it has quickly worked out for the midfielder, who failed to find the net once while at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates Stadium, but who has already scored twice for his new club.

Redknapp said: "Attacking, defending - he can do it all. Diarra is top, top drawer and a dream signing for us. If nothing else, it is his attitude that makes him so good. He knows where he wants to go and is determined to get there.

"I don't think it was a case of Arsene Wenger making a mistake at Arsenal and letting him go. Arsene knew he was a terrific player all right but it is just that the little fellow made it clear he wanted to go if he wasn't in the team.

"It was similar at Chelsea. He played quite a few games there but still wasn't getting in regularly this season and told them he wanted to leave. At that rate, I think I'd better not ever drop him!"

Diarra has been accused of using Pompey as just a stepping stone back to the big time.

He practically admitted it in a French newspaper soon after signing at Fratton Park when he said: "These people won't expect me to stay here for the rest of my career."

However, later he declared his commitment to Portsmouth, and Fratton fans who have watched his impressive early displays are in no doubt of that.

"He's been fantastic," said Redknapp.

"With his ability, he could play anywhere but I can hardly wait to see him alongside Sulley Muntari in our midfield at Preston.

"Sulley is another big player for us. And we are glad to have him back from his very successful African Nations Cup campaign.

"Players have to have ambition. If Diarra says he wants to one day play for Barcelona, Real Madrid or even Manchester United, what's wrong with that?

"There's a lot of players you see kissing the (club) badge when they score but when the chance comes they push off anyway.

"The squad is so strong here now, I think we could give any team a game. We know we should have enough about us to beat Preston but the FA Cup does things to some teams - they play above their normal level."

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