Keine zweite "Rückkehr" für Jermain Defoe

West Ham v Portsmouth, Tue 8 April 2008, 19:45 (BST)
Portsmouth's former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe will miss the chance to play a second time this season at Upton Park against his old club on Tuesday night. The striker who had played for the Hammers until 2004 would have had to prove something against his former club: when Defoe returned to the Boleyn Ground with Tottenham back in November he could have scored the winner, but Robert Green saved his penalty late in the game (1-1; right).
But Defoe was told on Monday his grandmother had died and was due to fly out to the Caribbean to attend the funeral. Defoe, scorer of eight goals since his £7.5million transfer from Tottenham, also missed Pompey's FA Cup semi-final triumph over West Brom because he played for Spurs in an earlier round.
Pompey manager Harry Redknapp said: "Jermain was close to his grandmother and he is going as soon as he can."
Kanu, who scored the semi-final winner against Albion, is being rested for the West Ham match, providing David Nugent with an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Redknapp's team for next month's final.
Nugent, a £7million signing from Preston, is still looking for his first league goal for Pompey and will partner Milan Baros in attack.
Redknapp will again be without right midfielder John Utaka because of a hamstring injury so Papa Bouba Diop deputises once more.
Defender Hermann Hreidarsson could make way for Lauren while he rests an Achilles. Linvoy Primus (knee) and Noe Pamarot (ankle) remain sidelined. (Eurosport)
West Ham's Freddie Sears and Bobby Zamora are training again after missing the trip to Sunderland last time out.
George McCartney and John Pantsil, who were injured in that game, are also training. Freddie Ljungberg is out but his hamstring is not as bad as feared. (BBC)
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
"We have got six games left with four at home.
"We have had a bit of a break. It's amazing that we haven't played but find ourselves in the position we are in and we have got to take advantage of it.
"We have got to get a result and we will put some pressure on Manchester City if we can do that."