Ben-Haim 'set' to miss semi

Tal Ben-Haim looks 'set' to join The Herminator and Danny Webber in missing the semi final with Spurs a week on Sunday.

Pompey coach Paul Groves, who says he has never seen an injury crisis like we are having now, told The News: 'Tal's been to see his national team doctor.

'He will be a big doubt. A lot are coming on to their rehab work but he is looking increasingly doubtful for the semi-final.'

We already knew that The Herminator and Webber were out, Ben-Haim missing out is obviously a blow given his experience - even if, in all honesty, I have not been convinced by him all in all his season.

Clearly I would have preferred to be with, than without, him for the semi - but hey ho!

Another that will miss the semi is Quincy with it 'claimed' that he has moved to Qatar to sign for Al Saad, after being recalled by Spartak Moscow - this has not been 'officially' confirmed yet though, well as far as I can see?

Groves is 'hopeful' that Marc Wilson, Papa Bouba Diop and Nadir Belhadj will all be back, or at least 'could' be fighting to be in contention...

It would be fantastic to have Belhadj back, so lets keep our fingers crossed!

Assuming Wilson is fit it looks like it will be him and Rocha John Rocha in the middle of the defence - that, in itself, is a touch 'frightening', but what can you do eh?

To be fair to Rocha John Rocha he was starting to look 'better' when played as a central defender as opposed to a fullback!

It must be almost nailed on that Joel Ward will make his league debut at the weekend, as we quite literally do not have another central defender available do we?

Even if we start shifting the fullbacks that we do have fit - and there are not many of these either - into the middle, we are then short of fullback so it will have to be Ward and/or Leonard Sowah playing in the back 4 against Blackburn, surely?

As already said, missing some of these players is a massive blow to us although we 'seem' to be getting a 'few' players back now, so as that global supermarket chain says 'every little helps!' - although clearly we cannot take ANY risks with anyone this weekend against Blackburn can we...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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