Nicky Shorey is set to join Portsmouth Football Club on a season-long loan deal.

The England international joined Aston Villa from Reading in a £5million deal last summer, but he was in and out of Martin O’Neill’s side during the 2008/09 campaign.

Although Shorey has started five times for the Midlands side this term, the arrival of Blackburn Rovers fullback Stephen Warnock is set to return him to the bench.

Villa have now accepted a loan bid from Pompey for Shorey, who has set off for the South Coast to discuss the potential move with the Fratton Park club.