A Portsmouth department with an abundance of quality - but is it an absolute necessity?

The Blues currently have no left-back under contract, while their two remaining senior centre-halves remaining amassed a combined seven League One appearances during the 2019-20 season.

But in terms of goalkeeping, Kenny Jackett has an abundance of options at his disposal.

Alex Bass, Craig MacGillivray and Duncan Turnbull are all tied down, while youngster Taylor Seymour is expected to be added to the ranks.

Certainly, such strength in depth will have resulted in envious glances from managers across the third tier – and even in the Championship.

Jackett's previously said that a club like Pompey should have two good goalkeepers. He's not wrong.

Both Bass and MacGillivray held in the highest regard by the backroom staff, players and fans alike.

In terms of League One stoppers, the pair could comfortably perform in any side who will be challenging for promotion.

But, in truth, such luxury is a rarity at third-tier level. Assessing the teams that also were in the promotion mix during 2019-20, their back-up keepers were well out of the frame.

Marko Marosi featured in every league game for champions Coventry, while Ben Wilson – who has fewer than 100 professional games under his belt – was second choice.

It was the same at runners-up Rotherham. Dan Iversen was ever-present bar one match, with 36-year-old Lewis Price his deputy.

At Wycombe, Ryan Allsop – someone who the Fratton faithful will remember for the wrong reasons – was undisputed first choice ahead of youngster Cameron Yates and veteran David Stockdale.

Even beaten play-off sides Oxford and Fleetwood were the same, with Simon Eastwood and Alex Cairns both respectively clear No1s.

It's significantly different at Pompey, however.

While it was MacGillivray who had the gloves in the first half of the season and Bass from New Year's Day onwards, Jackett always maintained there was scarcely anything between them in terms of ability.

But in a summer where the Covid-19 outbreak has impacted finances throughout football, there's a case to be argued: is having two keepers of Bass and MacGillivray's ilk an absolute necessity?

As we know, Bass has been the subject of interest from Crystal Palace.

The academy graduate surprisingly took the gloves from MacGillivray at Gillingham on New Year's Day, with Jackett citing his reasons as a ‘gut feeling’.

However, Bass was immense during a sustained spell in the starting XI. The 22-year-old looked mature beyond his years and recorded a better save ratio than any other keeper in the top four divisions.

While some believe he was at fault for Oxford's goal in the play-off second leg, he surpassed all expectations when coming into the team.

It's not a shock that Premier League suitors have been tracking his progress and he looks destined to play at a higher level in his career.

Should Bass move on for what would be a multi-million pound fee then it'd give Pompey a healthy war chest to address key areas that need bolstering in the transfer market.

What's more, a keeper who has already underlined his calibre would be recalled.

MacGillivray remains one of Jackett's shrewdest signings during his three years in charge.

He was ever-present in League One during his maiden campaign and made a crucial stop in the penalty shootout when the Blues defeated Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.

Although Pompey's stuttered along in the first half of 2019-20, MacGillivray's form didn't jettison. There was only one obvious goalscoring error – coming against Rotherham – where you could really point the finger at him.

That's why it was such a bombshell that he was axed at Gillingham and it's remained that way since.

Should a move for Bass not materialise, however, you have to ponder whether it then makes sense to retain MacGillivray.

He's out of contract in June 2020, although the club have the option of an additional 12 months.

It's understood the Scot isn't prepared for another campaign sitting on the bench – as he did at Walsall and Shrewsbury earlier in his career.

Now aged 27 and with his place in the Scotland squad for next summer's Euros at risk, he's past the point of playing the bridesmaid role. Regular action is what he covets.

If Jackett does opt to keep Bass as his No1 then allowing MacGillivray to leave could suit all parties.

The genial former Harrogate man would get an opportunity to feature elsewhere, while Pompey would bank a decent fee that, again, could allow them to strengthen positions such as central defence.

We've yet to see Turnbull in action but he's rated by the coaching staff. After all, he became the first of a long list of triallists under Kenny Jackett to win a contract and would fill the No2 slot.

Seymour, too, has raw ability that has impressed.

There’s even the option of an emergency loan if Jackett felt neither would be ready for first-team action should his No1 sustain an injury.

While there’d be a substantial deal of reluctancy to allow either Bass or MacGillivray to depart, and it would undoubtedly weaken the goalkeeping department, it could prove sensible overall.