Kelvin Etuhu joins Pompey

Kelvin Etuhu has been confirmed as a Pompey player. Etuhu was released by Manchester City after serving an eight month custodial sentence for assault and has been a free agent since last summer.

Normally here on Vital Pompey we await official confirmation on the club's website but as the BBC have broken the story with quote from Appy that is good enough for me.

Kelvin was been training with Pompey hoping to win himself a chance of a deal and following Hermann` s move to Coventry City earlier in the week Appy has decided to plump for the 23 year old as a replacement. Appy told Radio Solent 'We are delighted to bring Kelvin on board. He has been training with us for two-and-a-half months now but we've had to keep it very quiet. We didn't want to lose out to someone else.'

'He is so desperate to be successful because of what has happened to him in the past and sometimes young players can use a bad thing to happen in there life as a positive. He is a very polite chap and we are looking forward to him playing and he goes straight into the squad for Saturday.'

It is believed he has signed a contract to the end of this season with the option of a further term added.

Etuhu, a City product, had struggled to make the first team at Eastlands but had had loan spells at Rochdale, Leicester and Cardiff, where he may well make his debut on Saturday.

At City as a youngster he played in the side that reached the FA Youth Cup final back in 2006 losing on aggregate to Liverpool. He then played just ten games for them scoring just once with an injury time goal in a 4-2 win over Bolton in December 2007.

Kelvin can play on either flank or a striker and at over six feet will also give Pompey more height in the side. There is no doubt that this is a gamble by Appy signing a player who has not played league football for eighteen months - but it will hopefully not be an expensive deal.

Kelvin's elder brother Dickson in on the books of Fulham.

More bids

Meanwhile the vultures, as Rug called them are continuing to circle God`s Green Acre and it is reported that further bids have been rejected for both Jason Pearce and Joel Ward.

Rumours continue to grow that Newcastle are admiring Stephen Henderson who has recently broken into the Pompey first team and impressed most watchers. Newcastle are keen to expand their number of young first team squad players and at just twenty three Stephen fits the bill.

PUP

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.