Defoe - I'm fit to face Rovers

Pompey striker disappointed to have missed AC Milan visit

By Stephen Mills   Last updated: 28th November 2008

Defoe - I'm fit to face Rovers

Defoe: Fit and ready

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Jermain Defoe has declared himself fit and ready to return to action for Portsmouth at home to Blackburn this weekend.

The England striker missed last Saturday's Premier League draw with Hull City and the midweek Uefa Cup clash with AC Milan due to a calf injury and there were fears he may need surgery to repair the problem.

However, tests this week have revealed the injury was not as bad as initially feared and after seeing a specialist Defoe says he is ready to start in Sunday's clash with Rovers at Fratton Park.

"I'm alright, I'll be back this weekend," he told skysports.com.

"I saw a specialist for some scans and it was only a little problem with my back. It's all connected and it was running through the back of my legs and that's why it was feeling really tight in my hamstrings and my calves.

"My feet were getting numb, but I'm seeing a guy in London twice a week and he's really strengthening my back.

"But I can still play. I'll be fit for the weekend."

Difficult to watch

The forward, who has scored six goals in the Premier League so far this season, said he was fit enough to play against Italian giants Milan on Thursday night, but Pompey boss Tony Adams decided not to risk him.

Defoe admitted it was 'horrible' to be watching from the sidelines for one of the biggest nights in Portsmouth's history as they were denied a famous win by two goals in the final six minutes of the game.

"It was horrible," he said.

"To be fair, I've been lucky with injuries and I don't really miss games. I wanted to play but the manager knows what I'm like and said I had to take it easy.

"I wanted to play but the manager said 'no, I don't want to risk you'.

"I just want to get out there. I just wanted to be involved and it's so difficult watching it, but I've said to people I'll be back at the weekend and hopefully I can help the team get three points."

Defoe added that the players were frustrated to let a 2-0 lead slip as dramatic late strikes from Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi saw Milan snatch an unlikely 2-2 draw.

It was the second time in a week that Portsmouth have conceded a last-minute equaliser following last weekend's draw with Hull, but Defoe says that disappointment can be tempered by the fact that Portsmouth almost got the better of one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

"The positives you can take from it is that we were playing against one of the biggest clubs in the world. The atmosphere was unbelievable and the boys were unbelievable.

"To go 2-0 up, really you should win the game, but like the manager said we've still got a lot of young players in the team and when people are learning you make mistakes.

"It's frustrating really because we worked so hard and I thought we kept the ball so well. Everyone looked really sharp and we created chances against a top European side and really we should have won the game.

"We'll take the draw, but we're really disappointed we didn't actually win with them scoring in the last minute. Against Hull we let in a last-minute goal as well so it's really disappointing.

"I don't think the boys are down though because you can look at it and say on another day we would have won.

"If we keep playing the way we're playing then in our next game we can learn from our mistakes, keep scoring goals and stop conceding."