Pompey boss Alan Ball has been offered a police escort for tomorrow night's match with Manchester City, which marks his first return to Maine Road since his departure as manager.

Scotland Yard's Football Intelligence Unit reacted after Pompey reported receiving threatening calls surrounding tomorrow night's match.

Although Manchester City are sitting six points clear at the top of Division 1, feelings still run high in the blue half of Manchester over Ball's spell as manager at Maine Road.

Ball left The Dell to take over at Manchester City but was unable to stop them sliding into Division 2, and many City fans hold him responsible for the club's decline, just as Manchester United were peaking with Premiership and European Champions League glory.

Ball will be able to look at Norwegian defender Tommy Berntsen after revealing he has taken the Lillestrom stopper on a three-month loan.

Berntsen, and Danish trialist Tommy Lovenkrands from AB Copenhagen, both joined up for training with Pompey yesterday morning and Ball said: "I liked the look of both of them, they did OK."

Jeff Peron won't be making the trip to Maine Road for tomorrow night's clash with table-toppers Manchester City after picking up a hamstring injury in training. He has been out since October 2 with a calf injury but pulled up in training last week.

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