Ben Close reveals agony at surprise Portsmouth play-off absence against Oxford United

The 24-year-old was surprisingly omitted from Kenny Jackett’s squad for the two-legged semi-final against Oxford United in July.

Despite featuring 44 times last season, scoring six times, he was not included in the Blues’ expanded 20-man squad for both fixtures.

Instead Bryn Morris partnered Cameron McGeehan in the centre of midfield, with skipper Tom Naylor benched and Close excluded completely.

The home-grown product found himself back involved for last weekend’s season opener at Stevenage in the Carabao Cup, albeit as an unused substitute.

And Close insists he has put behind him the disappointment of his play-off exclusion.

He told The News: ‘Nothing out of the ordinary happened for the play-offs. It was a matter of team selection and I wasn’t picked, it’s as simple as that.

‘There was no bust up or anything like that. It was down to team selection, not getting picked and not making the squad, which is disappointing.

‘Everyone wants to be starting and I am no different. It’s obviously hard to take for anyone being left out of the play-offs.

‘You’re down about it for a little while, but you have to get over it as soon as possible and get mentally right and physically right to push yourself back in the team.

‘People, family members and friends have asked what happened, some people speculate, but nothing happened.

‘I am over it, it's in the past, it is part of the game. Every player faces disappointment in their career and there was no bust up.

‘It’s even harder to take after being in almost every Pompey squad that season.

‘If you’re not in and around the squad, getting left out is a bit easier to take because you are used to it. Whereas, having played so much that campaign, it was disappointing.

‘I think I have a pretty good way of dealing with disappointment like that. If you haven’t got the strength to take it, you’re not going to last long.’

SInce making his first-team debut in September 2014, Close has racked up 162 appearances and 17 goals.

Under Jackett he has established himself as a mainstay of Pompey’s side – which made his play-off absence even more surprising.

Regardless, the former Priory School pupil is focused on looking ahead.

Close added: ‘Every player deals with it differently.

‘For me it’s about getting over it instantly, getting your head around not being involved and just looking at what you need to do better.

‘You speak to staff about what you need to do to get back into the team, work hard at your own game in training. It’s trying to make yourself better.

‘Sometimes it gives you a bit of a kick up the bum to know you have to liven up and improve bits of your game to get into the team.’

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