Portsmouth chairman Sulaiman al-Fahim is confident their transfer embargo will be lifted and manager Paul Hart will be allowed to buy in January.

Portsmouth's transfer embargo - applied by the Premier League because of money owed to Chelsea for Glen Johnson's transfer two years ago - must be lifted.

That means new owner, Ali al-Faraj must pay the Chelsea debt and find further money for Hart to freshen the squad. Portsmouth's debts are understood to stand at about £43m, of which £35m is owed to former owner Alexandre Gaydamak and £8m in unpaid tax, but al-Fahim is confident Hart will be able to buy.

"I think there will be money from the new owner for maybe for four or five players," he told the Observer.

On their African Nations Cup absences, Al Fahim added: "It's a good chance for academy players to show their talents and strengths, that they can become part of the first-team squad."