STEVE CLARIDGE travels to Grimsby tonight in the mood to show why he should be the man to partner Lee Bradbury on a long-term basis.

The veteran striker is bristling at being written off by many after suffering a knee injury which put his season on hold but he's determined to show the knockers why he should be in pole position among Pompey's plethora of strikers.

Rory Allen is slowly making his way back to fitness, but Claridge says: "It was totally wrong for people to write me off and I reckon I'm still one of the best strikers at this club. I'm getting fitter every game and if the manager wants people to play for their places, he knows he'll get that from me."

Meanwhile Pompey boss Alan Ball is trying to remain patient as the Darren Moore saga continues to drag on. "I've still heard nothing from him, but then I gather none of the managers of the other clubs who are supposed to be in interested in him have heard either," said Ball.

Trialist Mohammed Camara has returned to his French club AC Havre after failing to impress Ball.

"He was a decent player but no better than what we have already got and he wouldn't improve us."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.