Fulton call-up '˜terrible' for Pompey

Pompey's on-loan Liverpool keeper Ryan Fulton Picture: Joe Pepler

That’s the view of Blues boss Paul Cook after the Liverpool loanee was selected for his country’s Euro 2017 qualifiers with France and Northern Ireland later this month.

Fulton will miss promotion-chasing Pompey’s Good Friday home game with Notts County and the Easter Monday trip to AFC Wimbledon as a result.

Disappointed Cook, though, will not stand in the 19-year-old’s way and has thanked the Reds for allowing the highly-rated goalkeeper to continue his development on the south coast.

He said: ‘It’s great for Ryan but terrible for us, obviously.

‘That’s the way football is.

‘To get any type of international recognition for any young lad is good

‘Ryan is doing great, it is good of Liverpool to let us have him – these are the links you want to make with these clubs.

‘We get to have good, young players with us and have an influence on their career as they go on to better things.

‘We are disappointed with the call-up from a personal point of view but, from a professional point of view, it is great for the lad.’

Fulton’s international departure paves the way for Pompey’s remaining goalkeepers to stake a claim for a first-team spot.

At present, Academy stopper Alex Bass is the Blues’ back-up option, with Brian Murphy sidelined with a calf injury.

Meanwhile, Paul Jones is currently on loan at Crawley.

Cook added: ‘That’s what we have squads for – other goalkeepers within the building will get a chance to show they should be playing.

‘Certainly Ryan getting called up can’t be seen as anything other than a well done to the lad.’