Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis hopes he can finally enjoy a run in the first team as he bids to establish himself as a Fratton Park regular.

Davis, 28, was dogged by injuries in his 18 months at Tottenham before joining Pompey along with Pedro Mendes and Noe Pamarot in a £7million package-deal in January 2005, has become a victim of Redknapp's continuing search for renewed quality.

He admitted: "Of course, it has been frustrating because for a large majority of the season I was playing well and the team was winning games, especially away from home, but then I got injured with my foot and by the time I got back the club had bought new players.

"I've been back a while now but it has been hard to get into the team and I know I've got to do something special to give the manager a nice headache.

"I thought I did all right at Spurs and I'd play in goal if it meant appearing in the semi-final because the big games mean everything.

"And if I could just get on the bench at Wembley, which is a big fight on its own, it would be something.

"I've never played there before and the only semi-final I've experienced was an anti-climax when, with Fulham, we lost to a John Terry goal for Chelsea at Villa Park.

"As a Chelsea fan it was a double blow for me because they went on to lose the final to Arsenal."