How Portsmouth boss believes rule change will impact Sunderland, Ipswich, Peterborough, Hull City, Charlton and rest of EFL's games in future

That’s how Pompey boss Kenny Jackett sees the arrival of an increase of substitutions impacting matches in the EFL.

The Blues are among the 72 league members who will be allowed to make five substitutions, starting from tomorrow’s clash with Crewe at Fratton Park.

Jackett has welcomed the change and underlined he’s fully supportive of the increase from being allowed to introduce three of the seven named substitutes.

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The Pompey boss can only see clubs and fans benefitting from the move in the long run.

Jackett said: ‘It will be very interesting.

‘The experience of going from three to four subs in the cup at Ipswich really helped us get over the line in a tight game.

‘Now we’re going from three to five in 90 minutes, and I think that’s going to make a big difference.

‘It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

‘I’m definitely in favour of the change.

‘I think it will be good and I think as we expand the amount the substitutes, as we’ve gone from five to seven in recent years, why not have the facility to put more players on.

‘I think for the excitement of the game it’s good.

‘You can now change half your outfield players, I think that’s fantastic to be honest with you.

‘I think for the focus and interest of the game it’s good. I do think it’s quite an interesting and exciting concept.

‘I do think it will change the dynamics of the game, particularly in the second half, and I think when supporters get back it will add to the excitement.’

Fears over how the increase in permissible changes could slow the flow of games has been allayed by confirmation the changes must either arrive at half-time, or three different opportunities.

That proved the case when five subs were allowed in the play-offs at the end of last season, with the system working well in practice.

Jackett still feels the volume of changes will lead to longer matches, however.

He added: ‘Within the last run of games when you could do that, you couldn’t get to 80 minutes and put five individual subs on to waste that time.

‘You were given half-time and two slots to put the five subs on.

‘But it’s true we’ll probably see a longer game.’

There is a lot of debate about the Premier League’s decision not to follow suit and keep substitutions to the existing three changes.

Top-flight opinion seems to point towards the change benefitting the stronger squads with greater strength in depth.

Jackett feels it will take time to see if that proves the case in the EFL.

He added ‘There’s a lot of interest in the decision, of course.

‘I think from within the game we’ll see after two or three months we’ll know how people feel.

‘What I do pick up is within the Premier League the big boys are in favour, and the ones who haven’t got the bigger squads are not.

‘That seems to be the case.’

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