Pompey still assessing Main absence

The forgotten striker has spent almost five months on the sidelines with a succession of problems.

Initially the recruit from Doncaster was ruled out with an abdominal issue, before it developed into a knee injury.

Now Main has received an injection in his back as the Blues struggle to resolve his ongoing unavailability.

His recovery has seen him absent from the training ground in recent weeks, although the 24-year-old was at Fratton Park on Tuesday night to watch the 4-0 humbling of Grimsby.

Yet the Blues continue to have no idea when he will return, having not featured since October 22.

In the meantime, Paul Cook’s men are maintaining their promotion push without the five-goal striker.

Cook said: ‘Curtis is seeing a specialist about his back.

‘He’s had an injection in his back, in the L2 and L3 areas of his spine.

‘A specialist has been looking after him, so he has not been around at the training ground, but we are in contact with him.

‘We have no timeframe at the moment, it is ongoing.’

Main netted on his Pompey debut, scoring a penalty in the EFL Cup defeat at Coventry in August.

The former Middlesbrough man also struck twice in the 3-0 victory over Crawley at Fratton Park in September.

His last start was against Reading under-23s in the Checkatrade Trophy, again scoring twice, during a 2-2 draw.

However, he has not made an appearance since home defeat to Notts County in October.

Such has been the complication over identifying his injury, Main has not since played at any level for the Blues.