Jordy Hiwula paid the price as Hull quality had Portsmouth worried
Instead, Kenny Jackett opted to recall out-of-favour right-back James Bolton to replace him among the substitutes.
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Hide AdAs a consequence, it left Ellis Harrison as the sole forward on the bench for what unfolded as a humiliating 4-0 loss for the Fratton Park hosts.
However, Pompey’s assistant manager insists Hiwula could be involved in tomorrow night’s visit of Lincoln.
Gallen told The News: ‘I spoke to Jordy this morning, he was over his disappointment.
‘He will be disappointed, but understands there’s a lot of competition, a lot of good players. Promotion-winning squads usually have a lot of good players.
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Hide Ad‘The thinking behind Saturday was that Keane Lewis-Potter, Gavin Whyte and Mallik Wilks are all wide players – and Championship players.
‘We felt not having a natural full-back on the bench considering the calibre of those three wouldn’t have been the right way to go.
‘So we changed it to having James Bolton on the bench as a full-back option to bring on.
‘Against Wimbledon we didn’t have that, we would have had to put someone out of position to cover the full-back spot.
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Hide Ad‘All these calls are very, very close, you just weigh up the opposition and your own squad.
‘Lewis-Potter, Wilks and Whyte are wide players. One played up front, mainly Wilks, but he’s a wide player really.
‘To go into that game and not have cover for the full-backs was ultimately too risky on that particular game.’
Before Saturday, Hiwula had been named in 20 successive Pompey squads in all competitions.
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Hide AdHowever, he has still made just seven appearances for the Blues, with none in the league since November 21 against Crewe.
Gallen added: ‘We’ve got a healthy squad, a good squad.
‘But there will be some disappointed players tomorrow night not in the starting line-up or not on the bench.
‘There are so many games, so all players have to remain positive, stay fit and then, when called upon, do themselves justice.’
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