Portsmouth boss Paul Hart says Antti Niemi has every chance of winning a Premiership deal.

Niemi, the former Southampton and Fulham goalkeeper, is doing preseason with Pompey and Hart said: "Antti wouldn't be here if he wasn't in our thoughts.

"He's an experienced player and looks in really good shape so we'll see what happens.

"Looking at our goalkeepers, Asmir (Begovic) needs to get games so we are looking at putting him out on loan. Jamie's (Ashdown) not out of the plans either, he's in amongst us. But he's also said he wants first-team football.

"Goalkeepers can vegetate and we don't want that to happen so I'm trying to think about both of those players' careers. Antti is a great professional, has a great attitude towards the game, he's so hungry.

"Dave Coles has worked with him before and knows all about him.

"We'll see what happens."

The News says Niemi will ink a one-year deal this week.