Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, who has Dutchman Harald Wapenaar and Czech star Pavel Srnicek in reserve, is touchy about Hislop’s injury situation.

The former West Ham manager recently denied admitting the former West Ham and Newcastle keeper had anything more than “a groin strain”.

But after Hislop was left out of the midweek Carling Cup win over Third Division Northampton, Pompey’s official website referred to “his hernia problem”.

And the 34-year-old, who has been in inspired form, confirmed: “It was very sore after last Saturday’s match and I needed a few days’ rest.

“But the training has gone well this week and I’m definitely fit for tomorrow (at Birmingham). Maybe I will break down and need an operation eventually but not now. I don’t want to think about it until it is really necessary.”

Matt Taylor, the England Under-21 left-back who has been out since a heel operation in March, is also keen to make his Premiership bow tomorrow after a goalscoring comeback in the 5-2 midweek romp.

He said: “I know as far as the club are concerned there is no need to rush back because we are playing so well, but for me my return is overdue.

“The operation was a success but the recovery has been difficult because my Achilles actually shrunk when I couldn’t use my left foot very much.

“It is still painful now. It is a tricky injury to come back from and the way I felt a couple of weeks ago I would have been happy to be play for the reserves for another month.

“But after Tuesday night I think I’m ready for the first-team squad again, although playing is obviously at the manager’s discretion.”

Redknapp said: “We have an outstanding young player on our hands in Matthew and he’s very nearly fully fit again.

“There’s no rush but to be honest he’s so good and did so well on Tuesday that he’s very much in my mind for Birmingham.”