Sol Campbell, the Portsmouth captain, is losing his fight to be fit to face former club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

The centre back has damaged his knee and, although the problem has responded well to treatment, he looks unlikely to risk it with an FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion in a fortnight.

Campbell, who spoke out in December against the verbal abuse suffered by players, could have expected a hostile reception from Tottenham fans still upset over his transfer to Arsenal in 2001.

Instead Hermann Hreidarsson, who switched from left back to deputise for Campbell in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Aston Villa, is likely to retain his place alongside Sylvain Distin.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager who is already without Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop through suspension, said: "Sol is struggling. He looks doubtful for the weekend. We'll have to wait and see but I'm not too hopeful.

"When he did it [the knee], it didn't look like being that long but it has taken longer than I expected. Hermann did well though and he can carry on."