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Bradbury adds to Pompey problems

18/12/2001

SOCCER: Portsmouth have a striker crisis ahead of County's visit on Saturday after Lee Bradbury was ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

The former Manchester City striker, who scored in the corresponding fixture last season, damaged his knee in Thursday's 1-0 defeat against Millwall.

And on the sidelines he will join ex-Celtic forward Mark Burchill who scored four goals in five games before also being ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

The injuries could mean a rare outing for Steve Lovell who scored the winner at Fratton Park last season.

Pompey are likely to field four teenagers headed by England under-19 international Gary O'Neil who was subject to a £4.5 million bid from Sunderland.

Manager Graham Rix is under pressure following three defeats on the run - the worst sequence since Alan Ball lost his job at the start of last season.

The south coast side play a 3-4-1-2 formation to include the precocious talents of Robert Prosinecki.

Goalkeeper Yoshi Kawaguchi, who will captain Japan in next year's World Cup, has struggled since his club record £1.8m transfer - having conceded 16 goals in eight games.