Portsmouth boss reveals pressure striker is piling on himself ahead of Swindon visit

And Kenny Jackett believes it’s up to the Blues to delivery the supply to get the top scorer thriving again.

Marquis is without a goal in four games and has hit the back of the net just twice in his past 14 appearances ahead of Swindon’s visit tomorrow, while strike partner Ellis Harrison hasn’t bagged a league goal since October.

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Pompey remain the division’s top scorers, however, but Jackett knows Marquis will be putting his return under the microscope.

He said: ‘John will be more aware of that (not scoring) than anybody.

‘When he scores you can actually see the pressure he puts on himself, not from us, relieved.

‘That’s just where goalscorers are.

‘They’re not settled and they’re not happy until they do hit the net.

‘It’s up to him to keep going and keep persevering for the team - which he will, because in that time other people can score and we have to pick up points.

‘Ellis is very good at holding the ball up and offers pace through the channels.

‘He’s not had too much game time (in the period since his last league goal), but if he can chip in that can really help.’

Jackett has turned to playing two out-and-out strikers in the past two games, but neither Marquis and Harrison have been able to get on the scoresheet.

The Pompey boss believes his players have to look at the supply they are giving the duo.

He added: ‘It’s up to us to give them a service. They’re capable of scoring.

‘We have got goals in the team right the way through, but in terms of our actual centre-forwards and the guys playing there at the moment, we would want to be giving them the service and they would want to be finishing them definitely.

‘It’s our responsibility to see they gets good service as well.’

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