A new number nine and Ben Close also switches shirts as Portsmouth unveil squad numbers

And tomorrow supporters will be able to wear them on the back of the Blues’ new home strip, which is scheduled to be unveiled at 10am.

Ben Close, John Marquis and Ellis Harrison have all changed their numbers for the forthcoming campaign.

Yet the remaining members of Pompey’s squad have retained those they sported last term.

Close, who has traditionally worn number 33 since his first-team entrance in 2014-15, has been awarded the 8 shirt.

That had been worn by Brett Pitman during the previous three seasons following his arrival from Ipswich in the summer of 2017.

However, following the striker’s release at the end of his contract, Close has been allocated his shirt.

Marquis, has ditched his number 10 in favour of taking up the number 9 shirt, last owned by Oli Hawkins.

Similarly to Pitman, Hawkins had worn it for three campaigns until his release earlier this month.

Marquis’ vacated 10 shirt has gone to Harrison, who had sported number 22 during a maiden Fratton Park campaign in which he registered 10 goals.

Elsewhere, Craig MacGillivray keeps the number one jersey, despite having been overthrown by Alex Bass (35) at the start of January.

Gareth Evans continues with the number 26 he has owned since arriving under Paul Cook in the summer of 2015.

While the number six shirt which had been Christian Burgess’ for five seasons is currently remains unallocated following the defender’s departure for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

In addition, the number three is presently up for grabs, with its last occupant, Lee Brown, still in talks with Pompey over a potential return.

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