Nigel Quashie will not be crossing a footballing divide for the first time if he completes his move from Pompey to Saints on Monday.

Quashie was born in the south London district of Nunhead and represented the country of his birth at youth, under 21 and B level - but was handed his senior Scotland debut last May.

It is hoped that he makes as big an impression for Saints as he has done for the Scots, who regard him as one of their own after witnessing the verve he has brought to their midfield.

Harry Redknapp is clearly confident that he will.

The Saints boss wants to bring extra character to the side and Quashie, who three months ago became the first black player since the 1880s to captain Scotland, will certainly give him that.

You cannot fail to be impressed with the attitude of anyone who is prepared to swap mid-table security for a relegation battle.

Granted, the move will benefit Quashie financially.

He is believed to be unhappy at being paid less than half of out-of-favour Eyal Berkovic's £17,000 a week, but will know that by leaving Fratton Park he runs a greater risk of playing in the Championship again next season.

Some will argue that is his true level.

But those who say he is no better than the players Saints already have should be reminded that Quashie made his Premiership debut at Old Trafford as a 17-year-old back in 1995.

Back then, Quashie was touted as a future England player.

But that debut season ended with relegation and Quashie stagnated in the old first division for a couple of years, before signing for Nottingham Forest.

It was a move to forget. Quashie cost £2.5m but Forest were relegated and the midfielder's season was truncated by injury.

No matter.

Tony Pulis came calling in the summer of 2000, signing Quashie for a bargain £600,000 but it was only when Redknapp took over as manager in the summer of 2002 that his career really took off.

The Saints boss has never been shy to praise Pulis for signing Quashie, who he made club captain.

Quashie is also one of only four players in the current Portsmouth squad - along with Gary O'Neil, Linvoy Primus and Kevin Harper - who arrived at the club before Redknapp.

He is likely to play for Saints either on the left side of a four-man midfield, or on the left side of Jamie Redknapp in the centre.

He will work hard, retain the ball well and give Redknapp jnr every chance of excelling.

As well as tenacity, character and a very good left foot, he will provide much-needed balance to Saints' midfield

What he will NOT provide is pace and goals, despite never being shy to shoot from long range.

He has only ever scored one Premiership goal - at relegated Leicester when Pompey had already secured survival last May.