Pompey winger set for Blackpool return

Kal Naismith's last start came against Shrewsbury. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues winger missed Tuesday’s trip to Fleetwood with a groin problem.

But the 26-year-old is expected to be back in contention for the visit of the Tangerines on Saturday.

Naismith hasn’t started a game since the 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury on January 27.

But with Jackett’s options severely limited by injury and suspension, the Scot’s return is going to be welcomed by his manager.

The Pompey boss confirmed he is upbeat about the prospects of Naismith being fit for the game.

Jackett said: ‘Kal picked up a groin injury in training.

‘It’ll be a few days, I hope, and he should be okay for the weekend.’

Pompey have been hit by a swathe of injury and supension problems, which has forced Jackett to use a host of young players in his squad.

Naismith joined Brett Pitman and Gareth Evans, in missing the 2-1 defeat at Highbury Stadium.

Both Evans and Pitman are expected to be missing for three weeks, leaving them absent for this weekend and the trip to Bradford.

The pair join Stuart O’Keefe in the treatment room. O’Keefe has undergone a groin operation for a hernia-related problem which is expected to keep him out until mid-April.

Danny Rose’s season is over after breaking his leg against Northampton in December.

Rose fractured his left tibia in a drop ball with former Cobblers team-mate John-Joe O’Toole.

Thompson serves the second game of his four-match suspension on Saturday, following his second red card of the season for a foul on Shrimpers captain Ben Coker.

Those absences meant Pompey had a starting XI with an average age of just 22.5 on Tuesday night.