Norris undergoes op

Portsmouth midfielder David Norris has put his three-match ban to good use by undergoing hernia surgery.

Norris, who was ruled out of Saturday's defeat at Cardiff and is also suspended for the games with Peterborough and Hull after he was sent off against West Ham, has gone under the knife to solve an ongoing problem and will probably miss one extra match, the trip to Birmingham on February 7.

Pompey boss Michael Appleton told The News: "David's situation was an opportunity. We didn't want that opportunity, but it was an opportunity that arrived.

"Now, instead of him maybe getting progressively worse because we have a small squad, we are able to get him under the knife.

"I think anyone who has had a hernia will know there is so much you can do. You get to a certain amount and when you start to get fatigue, that's when you start making more damage.

"Birmingham would be a bit quick. Most likely it will be Blackpool, so he will be missing another game."