GRIMSBY manager Alan Buckley would welcome back his trio of key injured men with open arms - not that his squad has done badly without them.

It's acknowledged that the Mariners have one of the smallest squads in the division, the archetypal shoestring club, so all the more credit for the way Buckley keeps them competing.

Which is why Buckley was pleased with Saturday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham, whose equaliser was scored by Christopher Wreh on loan from Arsenal, the type of player Buckley could only sign in his dreams.

Grimsby were missing defender Kevin Donovan, midfield work-horse Stacy Coldicott and striker Lee Ashcroft on Saturday, and they have varying chances of being fit for Pompey's visit.

Pompey wouldn't be too unhappy if Ashcroft didn't pass muster on his achilles problem as he created mayhem alongside Jack Lester in the fixture at Fratton Park a month ago.

Should Ashcroft not recover, Bradley Allen is likely to continue to partner the lively Lester up front.

Grimsby showed that day what a spunky little unit they can be, proving good value for their 2-1 win despite having to play for almost an hour with ten men.

One of their stars that day was Paul Groves who was pressed into emergency service as a central defender. He's now back in a familiar midfield role, thanks mainly to the return of Mark Lever to the heart of the Mariners' defence.

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