Struggling Portsmouth have been hit by another injury setback as defender Tal Ben-Haim has been ruled out with a groin problem and is unlikely to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final with Spurs at Wembley on April 11.

GettyImagesTal Ben Haim: Available on a free

On Tuesday, Pompey revealed that both Hermann Hreidarsson and Danny Webber will be sidelined for six months with respective Achilles and anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and now Israel international Ben-Haim will be joining them on the treatment table.

Ben-Haim has continued struggle with a groin problem that was supposed to have been addressed by surgery earlier this year, and coach Paul Groves confirmed that the defender will be missing from Pompey's meeting with Spurs.

"Tal's been to see his national team doctor," Groves told the Portsmouth News. "He will be a big doubt. A lot are coming on to their rehab work but he is looking increasingly doubtful for the semi-final.

"Danny has ruptured his anterior cruciate and he is going to be out for a long period. 'I've never known a period like it, not in my time here."

Manager Avram Grant does have something to smile about though, with news that Ricardo Rocha, Tommy Smith and John Utaka have returned to training, while Nadir Belhadj, Marc Wilson and Papa Bouba Diop could be ready to return to face fromer Pompey boss Harry Redknapp.

"Marc Wilson has a hamstring injury and will start his rehab today. You would like to think he has a chance. The same goes for Nadir. It was a freak with him. He doesn't miss training and works fantastically hard. Hopefully he'll be back next week.

"John Utaka has started training, so has Tommy Smith and so has Ricardo. They're the plusses. The others are coming along. Kevin Boateng has started running and is doing well regards his rehab.

"Hassan Yebda will start running today and is moving along. Papa sustained a knee injury. He'll start running today, so we have one or two making their way back."