Pompey v Man Utd preview

Tevez: Back for United

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 0-2

SKY BET odds: Portsmouth 9/2, Draw 5/2, Man Utd 4/6

One to Watch: Carlos Tevez

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Portsmouth and Manchester United go in search of their first Premier League wins of the season, live on Sky Sports 1.

The sides played out a goalless draw in the Community Shield at Wembley just over a fortnight ago, before United lifted the trophy after a 3-1 win on penalties.

Portsmouth were then hammered 4-0 by Chelsea in their league opener last week to leave them bottom of the table on goal difference.

Pompey have been handed the hardest possible start to the campaign with the defending champions the first visitors to Fratton Park, and Harry Redknapp will realise that his men need to improve drastically.

Kranjcar doubt

Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar is set to miss out after injuring an ankle on international duty last week, but Lassana Diarra has recovered from the knee problem he picked up against Chelsea.

Sean Davis and Richard Hughes are fit again after hip problems to provide competition for places in the middle, while Jerome Thomas and John Utaka will also be hoping to feature after being left out of the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge.

Armand Traore may be given a debut at left-back after Pompey fought off competition from six other clubs to sign him on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

Tevez return

United already find themselves five points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool after being held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle last Sunday.

They travel to Anfield and Stamford Bridge in their next two matches and will be looking to use their game in hand to narrow the gap and climb out of their unfamiliar position in the bottom half.

Carlos Tevez is available after a family bereavement kept him out of the clash with Newcastle and is likely to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.

Anderson is also back from the Olympics but will not be rushed into action, even though Sir Alex Ferguson is short of options in midfield.

Nani is suspended and Owen Hargreaves and Park Ji-sung are not expected to feature despite returning to training.

John O'Shea may deputise for Michael Carrick, but Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes could all keep their places.

Possible starting XIs

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Traore, Diop, Diarra, Davis, Thomas, Defoe, Crouch

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, O'Shea, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez