Portsmouth manager Paul Hart admits he had no qualms about bringing Kevin-Prince Boateng to Fratton Park, despite questions being asked about the player's attitude during his Tottenham days.

The German-born midfielder, who could represent Ghana at next summer's World Cup in South Africa, struggled for games at White Hart Lane.

The 22-year-old joined Portsmouth at the end of August for a reported £4 million in a bid to kick-start his Premier League career.

He has since established himself as a regular in Hart's starting XI and has bagged two goals in eight league appearances for the south coast team.

Boateng's form at Fratton Park has already prompted Spurs boss Harry Redknapp to admit he regrets selling the player.

Despite hearing reports of the player's alleged disciplinary problems at Tottenham, and on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, Hart was keen to give the player his chance.

He said: "Prince has been excellent - he really has.

"I think it's there for everybody to see that he came here with a bit of a reputation, but I've not seen anything.

"He has controlled himself on the pitch; he has been excellent off it; he has been a great team member, and he will hopefully continue to blossom."

Hart added: "I did quite a bit of homework through players who worked with him and I got big ticks from everybody.

"I wasn't put off by it (negative reports about his attitude) and you only have to look at his ability."

Hart believes the player has grown up since being given his big break with Pompey.

Having served as head of the club's academy before taking over the managerial reins, former Nottingham Forest boss Hart knows some players develop quicker than others.

He added: "You don't always develop physically, mentally and psychologically at the same time.

"I think some people develop later and this game has lost the art of waiting for the late developers.

"We're just getting the benefit of somebody's time and it's starting to click.

"Hopefully, I'm helping to nurture an extremely good player.

"He's learning all the time. He's playing very well, but he will say himself that he's still making mistakes and those mistakes have to be ironed out."

Off the field, Hart admits he has held talks with representatives of new owner Ali Al-Faraj in a bid to thrash out plans to take the club forward.

However, the Pompey boss feels there is still plenty more to be discussed in the coming weeks and months.

He said: "I've had some preliminary talks with two of his advisors and more talks will take place in the next few weeks I would hope.

"Once we get down to more succinct talks and conversations, we'll have a little bit more direction and will know where we're going then.

"They were preliminary talks that will lead to others and the detail of them wasn't great. There needs to be other talks but they're not in my diary yet."

One stumbling block as Pompey plot the road ahead remains their transfer embargo.

It was imposed by the Premier League as the division's bottom side still owe Arsenal and Chelsea money for the transfers of Lassana Diarra and Glen Johnson respectively.

However, Hart is hopeful the ban will be lifted in time for the club to bolster their resources in the January transfer window.

He said: "As I understand it, we're still dealing with that.

"I've just been told it will be sorted pretty soon - well, it ranges from pretty soon to just before the deadline.

"I'll wait until I'm told but I know it hasn't been lifted yet."