Portsmouth are set to welcome back on loan Birmingham City winger Viv Solomon-Otabor as they enter the final stages of a thrilling season.

Pompey are currently fourth in League One, but a single point separates them and second-placed Barnsley. They're only behind Sunderland on goal difference and face the Black Cats in a huge showdown in a couple of weeks time.

They've turned their season around after a post-Christmas slump which saw them sink from top to the play-off spots, but as the games begin to run out they're still in with a chance of the top two.

They're set to be boosted by the return on Solomon-Otabor, who has been side lined for a month with a calf problem.

Under 23 coach Jake Wigley watched him put in 65 minutes recently and is convinced he could be in contention as early as next week.

"He was always pencilled in for 60-65 minutes because he had been out for a while with a few niggles," he told Portsmouth.co.uk.

"I thought he looked sharp, took people on on the outside, came inside to receive the ball, and afterwards he’s fine, no problems. It was a vital 65 minutes and I thought his performance on top of it was good as well."

Wigley now believes with some first team training could mean the player is back in time to face the Black Cats in what will surely be a winner-takes-all encounter.

"Next week or so he will put himself up, he’s training again regularly and what happens next is the manager’s decision."

Pompey travel to Burton Albion this weekend, knowing the Brewers have already derailed Barnsley's push for a top two place, and held Sunderland too.

The Verdict

I fancy Portsmouth in this race.

They're bang in form once more and the others are dropping the ball. Sunderland's defeat at the weekend was damaging and they could be losing form at the wrong time.

Portsmouth hammered Rochdale and they've used their EFL trophy win to kick on and move back up the table. With this good news too, they're going to be hugely confident.