Stoke City: Meet the Pompey players

BETWEEN THE STICKS

DAVID JAMES

THE 39-year-old is expected to be England's number one for the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

But although he's a regular for Pompey, he is still recovering from a knee problem and was left behind for England's game against Brazil last week.

AT THE BACK

ANTHONY VANDEN BORRE

BELGIUM international who made his debut for his country at just 16. Now 22, he is on a season-long loan from Genoa. Can play at right-back or on the right wing.

YOUNES KABOUL

THE 6ft 4in central defender was recruited from Tottenham by then-Pompey boss Harry Redknapp in the summer of 2008.

The fee was officially undisclosed, but thought to have been around £6m. The 23-year-old ex-Auxerre player is also a former captain of the France under-21 team.

MARK WILSON

THE 22-year-old joined from Manchester United as a youth-team player and has progressed to the Portsmouth first team after spells on loan with Luton, Bournemouth and Yeovil. Can play in central defence or midfield.

TAL BEN-HAIM

ISRAEL international who can play all across the defence. Made his name in England with Bolton Wanderers, where he was a team-mate of Abdoulaye Faye.

Had a season at Chelsea, but wasn't a regular.

Next came spells at Sunderland and then Manchester City before he joined Portsmouth in the summer.

IN THE MIDDLE

MICHAEL BROWN

EXPERIENCED and tough-tackling holding midfielder. The 32-year-old came through the ranks at Manchester City, but made his name at Sheffield United under Neil Warnock.

Had spells at Tottenham, Fulham and Wigan before joining Pompey in August.

HASSAN YEBDA

THE 25-year-old is on a season-long loan from Benfica.

Scored the crucial goal in Portsmouth's 1-0 win at Wolves last month.

The Algeria international is fast improving as he picks up fitness, having been a frustrated substitute at Benfica.

JAMIE O'HARA

THE 23-year-old midfielder came through the ranks at Tottenham. He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane in the summer, but Portsmouth signed him on loan until January, with an option to extend that until the end of the season.

KEVIN PRINCE BOATENG

JOINED Portsmouth from Tottenham for around £4m in August. The midfielder spent two years at Spurs after a £5.4m switch from Hertha Berlin, but made only 10 starts.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has scored twice in eight games for Pompey.

UP FRONT

FREDERIC PIQUIONNE

SIGNED on a year's loan from Lyon to help fill the sizeable gap left by the sale of Peter Crouch to Tottenham.

The 30-year-old striker scored two and set up one as Portsmouth hammered Stoke's 'B' team 4-0 at Fratton Park in the Carling Cup on October 27.

ARUNA DINDANE

THE 29-year-old striker is on a year-long loan from Lens.

The Ivory Coast international was linked with Stoke last season after making it clear he wanted a crack at English football.

Has four goals this season, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 home win over Wigan three weeks ago.

ON THE BENCH

KANU

THE 33-year-old Nigeria international is in his fourth year at Portsmouth.

The striker was part of the Arsenal double winning side of 2001-2002 and also part of the Arsenal "invincibles" who won the title unbeaten in 2003-2004.

TOMMY SMITH

THE right winger or striker was heavily linked with Stoke on the eve of City's debut season in the Premier League.

He stayed at Watford in the Championship and went on to score 17 goals for them last season. Joined Portsmouth in August.

MIKE WILLIAMSON

CENTRAL defender who made his name at Wycombe under their former manager and England centre-half Tony Adams.

Joined Watford in January for £150,000, but was only there until August when the Hornets accepted a bid of £2m rising to £3m from Pompey.

AARON MOKOENA

THE South African holding midfielder was linked with a move to Stoke towards the end of last season when he was at Blackburn.

Instead, he joined Portsmouth on a free transfer.

NADIR BELHADJ

LEFT-back who can also play as a left winger.

The 27-year-old Algeria international learned his trade in French football, most notably for Lyon and Lens.

JAMIE ASHDOWN

THE 29-year-old goalkeeper has carved out a career as an understudy, having only made 72 league appearances since making his debut for Reading in 2000.

Played in the Portsmouth team which beat Stoke 4-0 in the Carling Cup in October.

Sent off for Norwich when they were thumped 5-0 at Stoke in October 2006.

DANNY WEBBER

THE 27-year-old striker made his league debut while on loan from Manchester United at Port Vale eight years ago.

He didn't score in any of his six games for the Valiants, but had far more success at Watford and Sheffield United before joining Pompey in September.