Good news - and bad - as Portsmouth await first-team return of influential Michael Jacobs

However, the influential winger is still expected to miss another three matches as he feels his way back following a hamstring tear.

Jacobs suffered the injury during the Fratton Park encounter with Plymouth earlier this month.

He has subsequently been out for three games, of which two finished in defeats.

The former Wigan man is now expected to return to full training on Thursday – although Joe Gallen has warned a full week’s work will then be required.

That would see Jacobs also be absent against Oxford United tomorrow night, along with Gillingham and Doncaster, before potentially returning for the trip to Northampton (March 6).

Gallen told The News: ‘Provided Michael gets through tomorrow, hopefully he will be back training on Thursday.

‘It would be too soon for Saturday. He would need to get through a week’s worth of training.

‘Considering it’s a hamstring injury, he will need at least a full week of training prior to him being up for selection again.

‘Michael has been putting in good performances and knows that 4-4-2 role very well. It can be a bit difficult to play 4-4-2 without him because he really does nail that left midfield role for us.

‘We are waiting for him to come back and offer us a bit of flexibility in terms of going back to that formation.’

Meanwhile, James Bolton (ankle) and Alex Bass (broken leg) will again be absent for the Kassam Stadium encounter.

Pompey’s assistant manager added: ‘James Bolton rolled his ankle in training on Friday and that will keep him out again tomorrow. He will be back Thursday.

‘Alex Bass is out training again, doing a little bit here and there.

‘He has been out doing some form of goalkeeping work, not quite diving around but handling and that technical stuff keepers do.

‘He’ll need a bit more time, but is close to being able to dive around and put himself back into a game situation again.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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