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Gekas craves opportunity

Image: Gekas: Frustrated

Theofanis Gekas has pleaded with Paul Hart to give him a chance to prove his worth to the team.

Pompey striker pleads to be handed a chance to impress

Portsmouth striker Theofanis Gekas has pleaded with manager Paul Hart to give him a chance to prove his worth to the team. The 28-year-old was brought in on loan until the end of the season by former boss Tony Adams at the end of the transfer window but just a week later the former Arsenal captain was sacked by the Pompey board. The Greek international acknowledges that the situation has contributed to the fact that he is yet to make a single appearance during his time on the South Coast. Despite fellow striker Peter Crouch going nine Premier League games without a goal the Bayer Leverkusen front-man has still found himself kicking his heels on the sidelines. "I didn't join the club to be sitting on the terraces. Not even for tourism," he told The News. "I came here to try to help Portsmouth maintain their Premier League status and to find myself after almost six months of inaction with Leverkusen. "I understand the dismissal of Tony Adams didn't help me. It was a really bad coincidence for me, bad timing.

Fruitful

"Mr Hart doesn't know me well and it's normal turning to players he knows better. "But I am trying my best and I believe, through training, it is obvious my partnership with Peter Crouch can be really fruitful in attack. "I really want to get the chance to play and do my best on the field." A career record of 117 league goals in 271 games would in ordinary circumstances warrant recognition, especially at a club who are just one place and one point off the relegation places. But despite his lack of on pitch action, Gekas insists with the help of compatriot and fellow January signing Angelos Basinas he has settled well to life in England. "I feel I am now settled and it's feeling almost like home," he confirmed. "It didn't take me much time to adapt. I like the city very much and I must say I am impressed with what I found here. "Portsmouth is a very well organised club, with excellent training facilities."

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