Yakubu is aiming to fire Pompey to a first Premiership away win before departing for the African Nations Cup.

Nigerian international Yakubu burst back into form with two goals in the 4-2 win against Manchester City last week. And Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was given an added boost when the Nigerian FA gave the 20-year-old striker permission to star against Bolton before flying out to Tunisia.

Yakubu said: "This is a game we must not lose, we want to stay in the Premiership and, if we beat Bolton, we will have a great chance."

With Deon Burton now sidelined with a knee injury, Redknapp's striker resources will be even more stretched after tomorrow's clash at the Reebok Stadium.

The Pompey boss said of Yakubu: "It's good news, it gives me an extra week to find another couple of strikers but it balances out because Jay Jay Okocha can play for Bolton.

"It's going to be a big blow to lose him, we need him because Teddy Sheringham will be the only striker I have next week."

Bolton suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Tranmere in the FA Cup in midweek but the team that Pompey face tomorrow is likely to include more of the side that came from behind to win 4-3 at Blackburn last Saturday.

That will include former Saint Kevin Davies, who has not scored in seven games after notching five in his first 15 following his move from St Mary's.

Yakubu's international teammate Okocha is also set to play, 48 hours after losing £4m following the collapse of a Nigerian bank.

Redknapp, who yesterday completed the signing of teenage Swansea defender Richard Duffy, added: "Every game is a big game and Bolton are going well. They had a reserve team out against Tranmere, they made changes en bloc.

"Sam Allardyce is in a similar position to me, he has to. The priority is to stay in the Premiership and he has done a great job there. I think either he or Gordon Strachan should have been manager of the year last year."

Meanwhile, defender Sebastien Schemmel is glad that Boris Zivkovic has left for Stuttgart - because he has more chance of winning back his first team place.

Schemmel upset Redknapp himself when he requested more time in France with his poorly mother-in-law last month. But he refused to back up Zivkovic's criticism of Redknapp's training methods.

He added: "Good luck to Boris, he was a good player but he played in my position so it is more of a chance for me. He was a good player but what he said about Harry Redknapp was wrong and not very professional, we work very hard in every training session.

"We were all surprised when he went because he has played most of the our games but everyone knows that Boris was not enjoying it here.

"He should have done what I did when I was unhappy. I spoke to Harry, maybe he should have done the same."