Jackett: Pompey's new midfield pair can be creative force

Anton Walkes earned the plaudits against FC Utrecht

Tom Naylor and Anton Walkes are set to head into Saturday'sÂ League One curtain-raiser as the preferred personnel in the Blues' engine room.

Walkes produced a magnificent leveller from long distance in last weekend's final friendly against FCÂ Utrecht, while Naylor made an immediate impact in front of the Fratton faithful.

It represented a third-straightÂ pre-season fixture that the pair have been matched up.

Both players have defensive backgrounds, with Naylor standing inÂ at right-back and centre-half at times for Burton last term, although favouringÂ midfield.

As for Walkes, he featured at right-back and as a holding midfielder for Pompey last season.

And in a 4-4-2 formation, Jackett believesÂ the pair can have an attacking influence.

He said:Â '˜If AntonÂ scores enough goals like he did on SaturdayÂ then that'll be fine.

Tom Naylor on the attack against FC Utrecht

'˜I did think generally on Saturday we created quite a high number of chances and that was encouraging.

'˜Obviously, we want to score them, but I do think if you can keep creating chances then the goals will come.

'˜You ask about creativity, if we decide to go with those two (Walkes and Naylor), we will see.

'˜Whether it is creative enough andÂ does it provide enough of an attacking threat, those things very much depend on how your forwards are doing as well.

'˜If your forward players are producing and you just have to win your midfield, then fine.

'˜Maybe if your forwards aren't doing it, you have to supplement it from midfield, I do see that.

'˜With any formation, managersÂ generally pick four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.

'˜That can change through the course of a game, certainly the course of the season in terms of the nature of a player.'

Fit-again Ben Close is another consideration after only his second friendly outing against Utrecht.

JackettÂ added: '˜Ben Close is another option in there.

'˜Although, maybe he's a game shortÂ in terms of playing,Â playing only 17Â minutes on Saturday.

'˜But he's fit and still had two weeks of full training.'

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