Stefanovic Injury Blow?

Pompey defender, and captain Dejan Stefanovic will require a scan on a foot injury sustained in the victory over Wigan on Saturday to determine whether or not he has broken a toe?

I refer to the injury as "Stefanovic Injury Blow?" in the title as although we would prefer not to pick up injuries, especially down the problematic left hand side Dejan, despite some good performances this season as a left-back as opposed to his regular central defensive position, in which Linvoy Primus (who has been SUPERB) has been preferred alongside Sol Campbell, the Serbian isn't a player that all Pompey fans rate.

The 33-year-old, former Serbian International moved to Fratton Park from Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem in the close season of 2003 for a fee of £1.85m, which at the time would then be a club record fee paid out by Pompey.

Regular football, something he would have no trouble with whilst in Holland would prove easier for him this time in England with Pompey, his time with Sheffield Wednesday in the mid-late 1990's would see this a struggle, in four years between 1995 and 1999 he would only make 66 first team appearances.

One of Redknapp's boys, the Serb has been a regular under his tutelage, voted fans Player of the year for the 2004/05 season. Following Alain Perrin's ditching of the legedary Arjan De Zeeuw (one of the many, but arguably the WORST decisions the Frenchman would make!) Stefanovic would be handed the captain's arm band.

To accommodate Dejan this season Redknapp had moved him to a left-back position, and to be fair he has played some of his best football in some time so it will be a blow, although I have no concerns about Matty Taylor filling in at left-back, and although it would be a tough call if I had to choose between the two I'd plump for Taylor, Redknapp would probably see things differently however?

Stefanovic is also no stranger to controversy, his speaking out against Alain Perrin, confessing he did not give "100%" under him would not go down very well with the Pompey natives and his reported interest in applying for English citizenship in 2008, due to him by then having been a resident for a long enough period of time has gone down like a lead ballon in Serbia. He is seen as a traitor who only looks out for his best interests.

If Stefnovic's injury does prove to be a broken toe that could keep him out for a while then Taylor will almost certainly be the man to fill in. It would then be interesting to see what Redknapp does upon the Serbs return to full fitness...

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