Newcastle United defender Claudio Cacapa has revealed he started their dismal 4-1 home defeat to Portsmouth injured.

The Brazilian had a nightmare against Pompey on November 3 and was hauled off after just 17 minutes with the Toon already 3-0 down.

His three-month-old Tyneside career looked in tatters at that moment but he could come back into the frame at Blackburn Rovers with Abdoulaye Faye and Steven Taylor battling back from injury.

Cacapa, 31, said: "If the truth be known, I should not have played against Portsmouth because I had a bit of hamstring trouble.

"But after the way we had lost 2-1 at Reading after doing so well against Everton and Spurs, I was desperate to get out there against Portsmouth."

Pompey striker Benjani gave the centre-back hell during his brief appearance and Cacapa is still reeling.

He added: "What is particularly annoying is I have played against Benjani a lot in the past and have always done well against him."