Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot hopes to return for the Boxing Day clash against Arsenal after scans revealed his hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared.

Pamarot was forced off at the weekend during the defeat to Tottenham and was expected to miss the games in the Christmas schedule.

But Pamarot said: "It's not too bad. The physio thinks it will only take one week to heal rather than two weeks, so hopefully I will be available for the Arsenal game on Boxing Day.

"It's a small tear. I felt something early in the second half and it wasn't worth taking a risk.

"If you risk it, it can be much worse. So hopefully, I will only miss one game."

Midfielder Sean Davis is a doubt for Saturday's match at Liverpool after picking up a knock in training but Linvoy Primus and Martin Cranie are both making encouraging progress in their recovery from long-term injuries.

"Sean has now fully recovered from his hamstring injury but he took a slight knock during the week," said head physiotherapist Gary Sadler. "We took an X-ray and it revealed a bit of bone bruising but there's no fracture which is positive.

"We'll just have to wait and see if he'll be all right to feature at the weekend.

"Linvoy's knee is healing well and he'll be going to America in January so the surgeon can see how he's progressing. Hopefully he'll say it's time for the brace to come off.

"Martin Cranie is also recovering well from his leg fracture. We'll do a scan on him shortly and if it's positive then he can start doing some work in the swimming pool."

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