WHEN former Claret David Unsworth signed for Portsmouth in the summer of 2004, the club was on the crest of a Premier League wave.

Burnley go there today with Pompey all at sea.

The Fratton Park side face an uncertain future after going into administration for the second time in two years, and into the Championship’s bottom three The halcyon days of Harry Redknapp’s reign, when even Manchester United feared the journey to the doorstep of the dockyards, seem a long time ago.

Chorley-born Unsworth fears for his old club.

But he has no such worries about Burnley, believing Howe, who he crossed paths with at Pompey, is the man to take them forward.

“Eddie was there when I was at Portsmouth,” explained the long-serving former Everton defender, who spent a years at Turf.

“He was struggling with his injury and then went back to Bournemouth on loan, so we were ships that passed in the night really.

“He was a deep thinker then, and he is doing a good job now. He is building foundations at Burnley and he has got good people around him.

“You don’t hear rubbish coming from him. It’s all about the team and not about him, which is always good to see.”

Unsworth’s only concern is the Clarets’ inconsistency this season.

“I’ve seen Burnley a few times this year,” said the 38-year-old.

“A couple of games they’ve played well and a couple of games they’ve disappointed.

“You don’t know what team’s going to turn up.

“I’m sure Eddie will be disappointed with that.

“Going 2-0 up against West Ham proves they can compete against the top teams. In their good run they looked a decent attacking team, playing with pace and wingers.

“On their day they have individuals who are brilliant, the next game you can think, ‘Where are they?’.

“I saw them against Peter-borough, and they put in a poor performance that day.

“But that team is capable of beating anyone.

“You can say that about halve the teams in the division though.

“The teams who are consistent, like West Ham and Southampton, are the teams who grind results out even when they don’t play well. The question is, can Burnley play badly and win?”

But Unsworth, who was signed by Steve Cotterill in August 2007, is confident Howe can come up with the answers next season, without putting the club in financial jeopardy.

“I like what he is doing in terms of the squad he is generating, introducing young players,” he said. “You do need experience in the Championship and one or two more senior players might give them that base to be consistent.

“He has signed players at a young age that will improve.

“Players like Charlie Austin and Marvin Bartley will be better for a full season in the Championship.

“It will have been a great experience for them.

“His transfer policy has been decent, just one or two more experienced players might be the difference between a good season and a very good season.”

As for Portsmouth, who knows.

“It’s a mess,” said Unsworth, who felt forced out at Fratton Park by foreign Velimir Zajec and Alain Perrin, who followed Redknapp’s first spell in charge at the club.

“There’s been a lot of comings and goings, not just on the pitch but off it.

“All the change of managers, players, board – even admin-istrators – it’s been a topsy turvy time over the last six or seven years.”

Portsmouth are on rocky ground. But Howe, Unsworth feels, is establishing solid foundations at Burnley.

“Another pre-season under Eddie’s belt, building,” he said, “Burnley will be a force next year.”