How Portsmouth striker Ellis Harrison is getting his competitive juices flowing despite football shutdown

The striker explained he's in close communication with team-mates to ensure he’s being pushed while Pompey undergo their own personal training programmes at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Blues haven’t been at their Copnor Road training base since Friday, March 13.

They were sent home after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tested positive for Covid-19 following his side’s 2-0 FA Cup win at Fratton Park on March 2.

Quartet James Bolton, Andy Cannon, Haji Mnoga and Sean Raggett subsequently contracted the virus.

With the country on virtual lockdown for the next three weeks at least, it means the Pompey players will continue to carry out their own regimes to keep up fitness levels ahead of the campaign recommencing. That’ll be April 30 at the earliest.

Harrison admits his current training plan is incomparable to playing football every day.

But frequent contact with Tom Naylor, John Marquis and Lee Brown is ensuring he remains finely tuned for when the Blues’ League One promotion push restarts.

The former Ipswich forward said: ‘I still need to keep fit, although the fitness doesn’t compare to when you're running around in training and playing football.

‘I get the competitiveness from speaking to the boys like Nayls, Jono and Browny.

‘If they go on a run then it’s always competitive. I might not fancy a run that day but I've got those three pushing me and thinking “I can’t stay in today if they’ve just ran”.

‘In a different way you’re being pushed. You're not with them but they’re still pushing you to get out rather than staying in and having a bag of crisps!

‘You’ve got each other to bounce off in terms of that but it’s a lot different than running rings around Browny in training every day.

‘But they're your friends as well as your team-mates and it’s important you keep contact with people in football even when you're not playing.'

Harrison’s time is also being occupied by the birth of his son, August, which caused him to miss Pompey's defeat at Peterborough earlier this month.

The front man added: ‘It works out well for my missus and the baby (being at home).

‘It is good to be here with them but I still need to go to work and do my job.

‘That's why I do go out and do my runs because the season can start at any time.

‘It's nice to be at home to help out with the Mrs and the baby but it's not the same as being in with the lads.

‘Everyone knows what I’m like and how lively I am all the time.’