Paul Benson’s loan spell has been renewed.
The striker has yet to score in four appearances for Pompey after arriving from Swindon last month.
But Guy Whittingham has been impressed with the 33-year-old’s contribution and the deal has been extended for another month.
He joins Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in staying at Fratton Park, with the youngster out-of-favour at his parent club Peterborough.
Benson missed the Blues’ goalless draw with Preston at the weekend.
The striker was suffering from a virus and had been told to stay away from the training ground from Wednesday.
The club feared other players may also catch the illness.
However, he had recovered sufficiently to return to training yesterday.
With Benson sidelined, Jake Jervis took his place in Whittingham’s starting line-up and played 61 minutes.
Yet Benson will be in the frame for selection for Saturday’s long trip to Hartlepool – as will the rest of the Pompey squad, with no injury concerns following the stalemate with Preston.
The loan renewals of Benson and Mendez-Laing is a boost to Whittingham ahead of the January transfer window.
Scott Allan also recently extended his Fratton Park stay, with the deal from West Brom expiring on January 29.
The other loanee in the squad is Jervis, whose initial stay from Birmingham ends on January 22.
In addition, there is still one loan spot empty in the Pompey match-day squad, with four of the five taken up so far.
Whittingham is set to raid the loan market again next month to plug the holes left by inevitable player departures once the transfer window opens.
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