David James will not let his respect for Sven-Goran Eriksson blunt his ambition to gather three more Premier League points for Portsmouth.England goalkeeper James is aware of the rumours Eriksson could be dismissed by seemingly disenchanted City supremo Thaksin Shinawatra at the end of a campaign which started so brightly for them.

James, who joined Pompey at the start of last season from City in a £1.2million deal, well remembers being dropped by Eriksson when the Swede was England manager but still admires and respects him.

James recalled: "Sven was always very decent with me. Even when he dropped me from the England team for the first time, he took the trouble to explain the reasons why and I respected that.

"I was fuming about it but I understood what he was saying and I could deal with it.

"We are going to City with the intention of getting three more points but it saddens me a little bit with the supposed turmoil that's going on there."

Although they won at Sunderland last week and have registered a league double over fierce rivals Manchester United, City's form has nose-dived since the turn of the year, prompting Shinawatra to publicly declare he will review of the club at the end of the campaign.

James said: "I don't know any inside information, but what started off as a very successful season for Sven seems to have turned out differently.

"My sadness is also for the staff and supporters at City. I moved there the season after they switched to Eastlands and I enjoyed my time there, but for all that I still want to win for Pompey now."

Harry Redknapp's side will close to within a single point of Everton in fifth place if they post their 10th Premier League away win of the season. And that will hugely strengthen the FA Cup finalists' first bid to secure UEFA Cup football next season.

James hopes for a decent reception from City supporters but is not expecting to be universally welcomed back.

He said: "If any fans are unhappy about an ex-player coming back and wanting to beat them then they've got a problem."

The veteran stopper is hoping to keep out Benjani Mwaruwari, the Zimbabwe striker Pompey sold to City in January to help finance a move for Jermain Defoe from Tottenham - and so far that deal is working out well for Redknapp's club.

Benjani, who scored 12 goals this season for Pompey, including two hat-tricks, has managed just one in nine matches for City, while Defoe has notched eight in eight as his replacement at Fratton Park.

James said: "Benjani will be feeling exactly the same as me about facing his old club. He loved it here but now we will want to beat us.

"His contribution to Portsmouth was important, but then so has been the whole team's input.

"Any success we've had this season is not down to any individual. It's down to the environment that Harry has created here and the fact that we work as a unit.

"Whenever someone has dropped out of the team, we've had someone else to come in.

"And, with all due respect, having Jermain will be more beneficial than having Benjani because the dynamic he has is more suited to the way we play.

"But Benjani will do well for City I'm sure - after this weekend."

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