Portsmouth boss defends Wycombe team selection decisionÂ

Kenny Jackett defended his decision not to recall Jack Whatmough to the Pompey starting XI against Wycombe.Â
Jack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur RahmanJack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Jack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur Rahman

The centre-back was available for Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Chairboys after recovering from the hamstring injury he picked up against Plymouth earlier this month.

However, Whatmough was not included in the Blues' squad, instead watching events unfold from the Fratton Park directors' box. 

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Jackett opted to maintain the central-defence partnership of Matt Clarke and Christian Burgess which proved solid in the 2-1 victory at Peterborough the previous weekend and took Pompey top of League One. 

Jack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur RahmanJack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Jack Whatmough, right, and Brett Pitman. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Yet it was Burgess' foul on Fred Onyedinma that led to Joe Jacobson equalising in the 89th minute for Wycombe. 

Nevertheless, Jackett did not want to break up the combination of the former Middlesbrough man and Clarke.

And the Pompey boss felt he had enough cover at the back to not accommodate Whatmough in his squad. 

He said: '˜Jack was fit and was fine. 

'˜He was unlucky not to be sub.

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'˜But I do feel in terms of the centre-half positions they very rarely go down and I have enough cover with people who can play centre-back.

'˜He is fully fit and I'll see what this week brings in terms of training.

'˜Jack was fully fit and I went for Christian Burgess and Matt Clarke on the back of our league position and win at Peterborough.'

Whatmough will feature for Pompey Reserves against Oxford United at Baffins Milton Rovers' PMC Stadium tonight (7pm).

Anton Walkes (groin) also makes his return from injury. 

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