Pennant relishing Pompey chance

Pennant could make his Pompey debut against Swansea in the FA Cup

Portsmouth new boy Jermaine Pennant is delighted with his loan switch to Fratton Park until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old winger completed his move from Liverpool on Tuesday.

Pennant had been linked to several clubs in the January transfer window including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Hull and Stoke City.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "It's been great, everyone has made me feel welcome and I've settled right in."

The former Arsenal star admitted that Pompey manager Tony Adams and executive chairman Peter Storrie had been influential in his move to the south coast.

Pennant spent the majority of his teenage playing years at Arsenal when Adams skippered the Gunners.

"Tony is just the same, that's the great thing about it," said Pennant.

"It's like he's still a player and sometimes you forget he's the gaffer. He's a great bloke and I've got nothing but praise for him."

Pennant made his Arsenal debut as a 16-year-old a decade ago. The Gunners had paid Notts County �2m for his services just a year earlier.

Tony Adams has still got his wit, still got a bit of banter about him and is still crazy

Jermaine Pennant

Pennant knows that Adams wants him to provide the crosses for good friend and former Liverpool team-mate Peter Crouch.

And he is determined to repay Adams' faith and deliver.

He said: "I hope I can, don't give me too much pressure though.

"If I can do that though it'll be great. That's what I came here for, to supply Crouch.

"I know what he likes, I know what he wants and if I can do that I'm sure everyone will be happy."

Pennant will almost certainly make his debut as Portsmouth continue their defence of the FA Cup against Championship side Swansea City at Fratton Park on Saturday.