Portsmouth boss' message over League One season as fears intensify over way forward for Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Hull City and Co

But the Blues boss is adamant his players can handle the test of delivering promotion through a congested schedule.

Pompey’s return to action at Accrington is in doubt tomorrow, with a frozen pitch at the Crown Ground and a pitch inspection due to take place this afternoon.

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A postponement would add to the games against Swindon and Bristol Rovers being called off over the festive period.

It’s the threat of coronavirus decimating the League One schedule which looms over Pompey and the rest of the game, however.

Two games were called off in the third tier yesterday to add to the 13 matches which were postponed over the Christmas period.

There’s been plenty of fears raised about where the season is headed, but Jackett feels stretching out the schedule is the right answer.

He said: ‘There is a possibility to extend the season at the end. That’s there.

‘Right now it’s very frustrating but there is a greater good for the games being called off.

‘There’s a very busy schedule, but that’s okay, as is a possible extension to the season. That can be done.

‘I do think for League One and League Two there’s more potential to do that than the Premier League and Championship, because you’re then running into international games. League One and League Two haven’t got that pressure.

‘There’s not many free weeks around at all now, but we’ve had heavy schedules before and we can come through that.

‘We can’t moan about playing football, we’re fortunate to work and be in it. That’s the way we have to look at it.

‘We can’t moan about a busy schedule, we have to embrace it and make sure we come out on top.

‘We’ve had those kind of schedules in recent seasons and it’s not out of the realms of possibility to be successful.’

The official line from the EFL at present is the season is continuing despite the number of postponed fixtures, as the rate of Covid-19 infection intensifies.

Pompey are well placed to continue the campaign at present, despite their own outbreak with five positive tests.

Jackett knows, however, there may come a point where the season continuing is taken out of the hands of the game’s governing bodies.

He added: ‘The country and the virus itself is now taking a different turn.

‘It feels like most of country is in Tier 3 or 4 and that restricts so much.

‘Something may come from the government, but at the moment we’re fortunate to be able to come in, train and do their work however.

‘It’s changed right the way through the country now and football only reflects society.

‘But, for us, having just got over a bout of Covid and everyone being okay, I’m very confident everybody will be fine.

‘There’s nobody displaying symptoms and we don’t feel we’re suffering as a group at the moment.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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