HARRY Redknapp believes the creative talents of Eyal Berkovic can help Portsmouth steer clear of relegation waters.

The Israeli international joined Pompey in a £500,000 transfer from Manchester City last week, teaming up again with the manager he played for at West Ham.

"I'm delighted to have brought in Eyal and I'm looking forward to working with him again," Redknapp said after finally sealing the deal that gave Berkovic the promise of first team football he has been craving since being frozen out by Blues boss Kevin Keegan.

"I had him at West Ham when he played some of his best football and he will make a difference because he will provide that bit of creativity that we've been lacking."

Portsmouth, who visit the Reebok on Saturday, made a flying start to their first season of Premiership football. A 4-0 second half romp against Wanderers at Fratton Park took them to the top of the table after three games and Teddy Sheringham and Co looked well suited to the top flight.

But they slipped into the bottom three when they lost 2-1 at Villa last week, prompting the pre-season doubters to claim that normal order had been resumed.

But Linvoy Primus, who was involved in the freak incident that led to Darius Vassell unwittingly scoring Villa's lucky winner in midweek, is confident they can avoid an instant return to the First Division.

Primus said: "Tuesday was a real kick in the teeth for us after we worked hard for so long.

"On the whole the performance was a good one and there was a lot to be encouraged about. Things will definitely turn around if we carry on like we are.

"Villa were in the same position as us not so long ago and they got out of it. There's no reason why we can't do the same.

"We've got to dust ourselves down, persevere and then the results will come. We haven't always looked like scoring in some games but we did against Aston Villa."