Peter Crouch admits he'd like to play with a strike-partner in Portsmouth's attack.

Crouch told The News: "When Jermain (Defoe) was here we knew how we would play, formed an understanding and got a good few goals.

"But we've got good players here now and I can play with someone else. It's not settled. I've just got to get the goals to keep us in the league. It's better to play with a partner because it shares the workload. To get away from two or even three centre halves can be hard at times.

"It's easier to play with someone there, but I can play on my own. If you have to do a job for the team then so be it. We lost Jermain and Diarra. If you lose players of that quality it is going to have an effect.

"But I would say we definitely have the quality here."