Burchill on recovery trail

The 21-year-old striker has spent nine months on the sidelines with a cruciate knee ligament injury picked up in a freak training ground collision with Pompey team-mate Robert Prosinecki last September.

It was a bitter blow for Burchill who only signed for the South Coast club from Celtic a month earlier in a £600,000 deal and has not had the opportunity to show the Fratton Park faithful what he can do.

"Mark has made good progress. He won't be ready for the pre-season friendly against Celtic on July 10 but should be fit for the start of the season a month later," said coach Harry Redknapp.

Portsmouth finished a disappointing 17th in Division One last season after starting with high expectations and Redknapp will hope for a considerable improvement and a possible play-off spot.