Portsmouth's Richard Hughes is the latest player to be classed as an injury doubt for the FA Cup final.
Midfielder expected to miss Chelsea showdown
Portsmouth have been dealt a cruel blow by fate after Richard Hughes became the latest player to be classed as an injury doubt for the FA Cup final.
The midfielder limped out of Saturday's 3-1 victory over Wolves with a hamstring problem and is now expected to miss the Wembley showdown with Chelsea on 15th May.
Hughes adds to a list of fitness problems that already includes Aruna Dindane, Aaron Mokoena, Tal Ben-Haim, Marc Wilson, Ricardo Rocha, Angelos Basinas, Jamie O'Hara, Hassan Yebda and Nadir Belhadj.
Manager Avram Grant acknowledges that it is an unkind setback for the 30-year-old after former boss Harry Redknapp decided not to select him for the 2008 FA Cup final squad.
"I am sorry for Richard, because in the last two months he has been very good for us," said Pompey boss Avram Grant. "It is a shame. He always gives 100 per cent."
Amazing
On-loan O'Hara was ineligible to face his parent club Tottenham in the semi-final, but is in line to be fit for the final.
The midfielder was at Fratton Park over the weekend to collect what was a clean sweep of Pompey's Player of the Season awards.
While the 23-year-old is unlikely to be staying on to play for the club in the Championship, O'Hara feels his time on the South Coast was well spent.
"This club has a place in my heart," O'Hara told the Portsmouth News. "I will never forget the times I have had here."
He added: "It's been amazing for me to come down here and play such a fantastic part and I am sure the club will be back in the Premier League soon."
