Israel striker Ben Sahar's stop-start Premiership career took a turn for the worse following Portsmouth's Carling Cup exit against his parent club, Chelsea.
Sahar joined Portsmouth on a six-month loan in July but despite impressing in pre-season, he has failed to make an appearance and looks unlikely to get many first team chances.
The 19-year-old suffered a further blow when boss Harry Redknapp did not name him in the club's Uefa Cup squad last month as Chelsea did do not want him cup-tied.
The Stamford Bridge club want the option of using Sahar in their Champions League campaign, if and when he returns to them in January.