TIM SHERWOOD finally signed on the dotted line for Pompey this week, ending a season-long pursuit by manager Harry Redknapp.

The former England international midfielder, who'll be 34 on Sunday (Feb 2) has agreed a loan deal until the end of the season. If Pompey are promoted he'll make the move permanent, with a nominal fee of £200,000 going to Spurs. His well documented fall-out with Glenn Hoddle last summer has resulted in Sherwood being out of the first team all season. In addition, a knee injury kept him out of action for several months and it's only in recent weeks that he's played a couple of matches in the Reserves. So is the man who Redknapp describes as 'the final piece in the jigsaw' fit enough to come straight into a Pompey side that badly needs his bite and drive in midfield? "I'm as fit as I'll ever be and just raring to get back into first team football again," he told me. "I'm grateful to Pompey for giving me the chance to resurrect my career and I want to help take them into the Premiership. "That's where I want to play and looking at the talent here already I think we should be OK." Sherwood is, though, keeping his options open about his future should the Blues fail to achieve their goal. "I had several other offers from Premiership clubs, but decided Pompey will be there next season anyway. So I headed south. "If the next few months aren't successful then I'll have to reassess the situation," he added, somewhat cryptically. Given that one of those 'other clubs' was West Brom, who'll almost certainly be back in Division 1 next season, his options may be limited. His agent, the mercurial Eric Hall, could find it hard to sell his man on considering his advanced football age. For the moment, though, Sherwood is hoping to make his debut tomorrow (Saturday) in the home game against lowly Grimsby. His experience with Blackburn ten years ago when they reached the Premiership via the playoffs will certainly come in handy. As Redknapp's 21st signing since taking over as manager last June he joins the likes of Merson, Festa and Hislop in the over 30s club at Fratton Park. He'll be aware that the manager has also released 26 players during that same period. Perhaps the onus is on him to perform to earn a longer deal.