Stanley manager James Beattie hopes striker Kayode Odejayi can have the same impact he had during his first loan spell with the Reds.

The one-cap Nigeria international joined Stanley on loan from League One Rotherham in September and helped them climb away from the bottom of League Two, scoring four goals in 11 games.

The 31-year-old continued to train with Stanley when that deal expired as the two clubs had agreed for him to rejoin the Reds in January until the end of the season, and he was back on the scoresheet when he returned to action in the New Year’s Day derby at Fleetwood, which the hosts won 3-1.

Beattie now hopes Odejayi can cause even more problems for Portsmouth when Stanley visit Fratton Park this Saturday.

“It’s a huge positive (to have him back),” said Beattie. “We knew that Kay was going to come back and I believe we have missed his physical presence in the last few games, even though the lads have done tremendously well.

“It’s a massive boost for the lads. He’s a great character in the dressing room and he gives us that extra dimension.

“I want us to be able to play a number of ways and one of those ways is playing direct to Kay and getting support up to him quickly.

“He gave us that extra dimension we were missing earlier on in the season. If we’d have had him from the start, or somebody like him, then I don’t think we would have got off to that bad start.”

Stanley claimed a 2-2 draw with Portsmouth in the reverse fixture back in August but that was the only point they picked up from their opening eight league games, which left the Reds bottom of League Two.

However, Odejayi’s arrival helped Stanley climb out of the drop zone and they are now two places above the bottom two after a much-improved run of form. Pre-season title favourites Portsmouth are just a point better off in 19th place having won just one of their last 12.

“In the last 14 league games we’ve won six, drawn five and lost three,” Beattie added. “To win the league you expect to get two points a game (on average). From those games that would have been 28 points and we got 23 so we weren’t far off.

“Barring the bad start, we’d be in a much better position than we are now. But we’ve got to pick ourselves up because we’ve got a massive game on Saturday.”

Right-back Nickt Hunt is doubtful after going over on his ankle against Fleetwood, which forced him to be replaced by Josh Windass.

Andrew Dawber will continue in goal after Ian Dunbavin was allowed to join third-placed Chesterfield on a one-month emergency loan as cover to Tommy Lee.

After re-signing Odejayi, Beattie said he had no other ‘irons in the fire’ in terms of bringing players in.