Jermain Defoe is confident Portsmouth keeper David James will bounce back when Manchester United visit Fratton Park.

Evergreen James had four goals thumped past him by Chelsea last Sunday and was then beaten by a deflection and a stunning free-kick in England's dismal 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic.

However, Defoe, his team-mate for club and country, insisted: "He has got no need to feel gutted about anything. Jamo is a class act. He is a world-class keeper and he will keep showing that. To be honest I can't remember him making any bad mistakes in the games."

Some critics blamed James, 38, for Chelsea's second goal last Sunday when he was off his line as Nicolas Anelka headed in, but he had been forced into emergency action as the Pompey defence went missing.

And when he let in Deco's last minute long-ranger, there was an amazing swerve on the ball - and by then the game was all over.

He had no chance with the first goal at Wembley, former Pompey striker Milan Baros's deflected shot, but seemed to be caught flat-footed by Marek Jankulovski's fine free-kick before suffering some erratic moments in the second half.

Defoe, however, said: "When someone puts a free-kick right in the top corner, I don't think there is anything the keeper can do about it.

"We all know what Jamo can do, but miracles are not always possible."