The Portsmouth five with unclear futures

The impressive sum total of those five Pompey first-team players out of contract at the season's end.

The Blues have ruled out potentially offering new deals until beyond Christmas, as focus is trained on maintaining a League One promotion push.

In the meantime, Gareth Evans, Jack Whatmough, Nathan Thompson, Dion Donohue and Danny Rose must wait for news of their ongoing Fratton Park futures.

All but Rose started last weekend's 2-1 triumph at AFC Wimbledon, another positive result during what is now the best away start to a campaign in the club's Football League history.

Skippering Jackett's side was Evans, the 10th time he has worn the armband in 14 appearances this campaign, albeit Brett Pitman remaining club captain.

The July 2015 arrival from Fleetwood, who registered his 23rd Pompey goal in that Kingsmeadow victory, has now featured 145 times for the Blues.

The 30-year-old continues to be a popular member among the Fratton faithful, with his song choice during Southsea Common victory scenes following the League Two title triumph also long remembered.

That Wombles clash marked Thompson's 50th appearance since becoming Jackett's first signing as Pompey boss in June 2017.

Largely any first-team absence has been dictated by suspension or injury, with the former Swindon man establishing himself as first-choice right-back during the current reign.

Moving onto Whatmough, the Gosport lad has recently returned to the side following a hamstring problem and now made 76 appearances.

It was November 2013 when the defender made his Pompey bow, progress hampered by two serious knee operations. Ever the fighter, he has scrapped back to cement a regular spot.

Paul Cook's last act as manager was to award him a new two-year deal in May 2017, such was his regard for the youngster.

Of the quintet, Donohue is the only player not to have reached 50 Pompey appearances, currently sitting on 37.

Recruited in August 2017 for an undisclosed fee from Chesterfield, he has endured wretched luck since the summer with injury and illness.

However, the left-sided player has started the Blues' last two matches, both resulting in wins, weighing in with a goal and an assist.

The last of the five is Danny Rose, who has been handed just three outings this season after falling behind in the midfield pecking order.

He was demonstrating arguably the best form of his Pompey career before breaking a leg during a drop-ball challenge against Northampton in December 2017.

Fully recovered, the popular League Two title-winner turned down a loan switch to Crawley in August in favour of forcing his way back into the Blues reckoning.

Jackett will also lose the services of three loanees next summer, with David Wheeler, Ben Thompson and Andre Green scheduled to return to their parent clubs.

Yet the fate of those five permanent players on Fratton's books is far more unclear as Jackett continues to mastermind a Pompey promotion bid.