Pompey were forced to field three academy players for their goalless draw at Wigan on Wednesday night.

Lenny Sowah, Matt Ritchie and Joel Ward all impressed as they covered for a string of absent stars.

Grant was without the likes of Jamie O'Hara, David James, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Aruna Dindane and Hassan Yebda as his men fought for a creditable point at the DW Stadium.

Given that many of Pompey's injured players took part in the FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham last Sunday, some questioned whether Grant could have fielded a stronger side.

But he feels the Premier League owes them a vote of thanks for competing so well with such depleted resources.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's home game with Aston Villa, Grant said: "The Premier League need to say thank you after we played how we did against Wigan. We fought on without players and used three from the academy.

"I hope they will call Portsmouth and say 'Thank you for keeping the Premier League alive.'

"The other option would have been we went and lost 5-0, which would have been reasonable. Nobody would have been able to say anything to us because we were playing with a weak squad.

"Injuries are part of the game and we've had more than we expected. People in football have to know that when you have a lot of pressure on a small squad, you can't play at 100%."

Grant feels having such a limited squad has given him little opportunity to rest his players.

The former Chelsea boss believes this has contributed to Pompey's injury woes, but hopes his selection crisis will clear in time for the FA Cup final on May 15.

He added: "Take Hermann Hreidarsson (who is ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles tear).

"I'm not saying he was injured because of this, but playing two games every three days at his age you get injuries and that's what happened.

"There are a lot of players like him, but for the final I hope we will not have any injuries.

"For the moment, I do not pick the team that I want, I pick the team that I have."

While Grant has pledged to keep faith with his youngsters on Sunday, he has promised Villa's Champions League qualification rivals that they will give their all to win.

He said: "We are playing because we have pride, we are professional and we will do our best.

"I don't think it is fair for the other teams that we have such a short squad, but I know Manchester City and Tottenham are looking at us.

"I promise them we will do our best. In any circumstances we will do our best."

Grant added: "When I came here we made the decision that the young players would play.

"Now we are doing it because we need to do it but I must say I was pleased with the three who played on Wednesday.

"Of course, I want to let them play when everybody is fit. But they are good players, they are good for us and they will be good in the future for Portsmouth.

"I took the chance with them in a very difficult game away to Wigan, who needed the points badly, and they did well."