Harry Redknapp will hand his fringe players a game against Newcastle.
Harry Redknapp will hand his fringe Portsmouth players some much-needed playing time in the Carling Cup tie with Newcastle United.
Pompey have enjoyed a fine start to the Premiership campaign, but Redknapp is likely to rest several of his regulars for Wednesday's trip to St James' Park.
The likes of Ognjen Koroman, Rodolph Douala and Andy O'Brien can all expect an outing on Tyneside.
Koroman has made more appearances for Serbia than Portsmouth this season, while Douala and O'Brien's sole outings were in the last round of the Carling Cup against Mansfield Town.
"It's a good competition, it's a competition you'd like to win," Redknapp told Sky Sports News.
"We'll make a few changes. We've got some lads here who I think are good players and are not getting a chance to play at the moment.
"It gives me an opportunity to play a few of them. A couple of them are international players who haven't played, lads like Koroman who plays every game for Serbia and is a terrific player.
"Douala hasn't had a game yet and is a Cameroon international. A few of the lads here really need a game. Andy O'Brien hasn't been in the team lately, so we'll make a few changes."
Meanwhile, Redknapp admits he is surprised a club of Newcastle's stature have failed to win a trophy for approaching 40 years.
He added: "Newcastle are a massive club, there is not a better supported club. They have great fans and a fantastic stadium.
"You look at it over the years and they have had some great managers. Kenny Dalglish, Bobby Robson, Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Ruud Gullit, a real who's who of top football people, and they've not been able to win a trophy.
"They had the best centre forward we've seen in Premier League football in Alan Shearer and still not won a trophy."
