Portsmouth striker John Utaka admits the pace of the Premiership left him knackered in the early weeks of the season.

Utaka recalled: "It was not easy. I remember the first game I played against Derby, it was very hard because the pace was too much for me.

"It was difficult to breathe! When the ball came to me, I tired to slow the game down, but it was not easy. I think it took me five games to really get used to it."

He also told The News: "It was always my dream to come to England and play because I used to watch the Premier League on TV. That gave me the motivation to do well and also improve."