The priority will therefore be players under the age of 23 with the view of developing their games further, making the most of their hunger and hopefully making a sizeable profit on them later down the line.
This season, a number of up-and-coming players have featured regularly for Danny Cowley, with Gavin Bazunu, Hayden Carter and George Hirst the most notable contributors.
But how does the Blues’ use of such players compare to others in League One this season? Were Pompey less inclined to play younger players and more reliant on experienced campaigners? Or did the youthful members of the group get adequate chances to impress?
Based on minutes given to under-23 players over the course of the 2021-22 campaign, this is what we found.
But how does the Blues’ use of such players compare to others in League One this season? Were Pompey less inclined to play younger players and more reliant on experienced campaigners? Or did the youthful members of the group get adequate chances to impress?
21. Doncaster - 4th
Number of minutes: 25,418; Under-23s players: Louis Jones, Ollie Younger, Joseph Olowu, Ro-Shaun Williams, Ben Jackson, Charlie Seaman, Cameron John, Branden Horton, Ben Blythe, Matthew Smith, Aidan Barlow, Josh Martin, Ethan Galbraith, Lirak Hasani, Liam Ravenhill, Ademipo Odubeko, Reo Griffiths. Photo: Charlotte Tattersall
22. AFC Wimbledon - 3rd
Number of minutes: 25,836; Under-23s players: Henry Lawrence, Daniel Csoka, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Paul Kalambayi, Paul Osew, George Marsh, Anthony Hartigan, Ayoub Assal, Ethan Chislett, Jack Rudoni, Luke McCormick, Alfie Bendle, Dylan Adjei-Hersey, Zach Robinson, Adepapo Awokoya-Mebude, Terry Ablade, Aaron Pressley, Aaron Cosgrove, Derick Osei Yaw, Tomas Kalinauskas. Photo: Alex Davidson
23. Lincoln - 2nd
Number of minutes: 26,275; Under-23s players: Josh Griffiths, Je Walsh, Jordan Wright, Regan Poole, Max Melbourne, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Timothy Eyoma, Max Saunders, Lewis Fiorini, Lasse Sorenson, Morgan Whittaker, Liam Cullen, Anthony Scully, Ben House, Freddie Draper. Photo: George Wood
24. MK Dons - 2nd
Number of minutes: 31,900; Under-23s players: Jamie Cumming, Warren O’Hora, Harry Darling, Daniel Harvie, Kaine Kesler, Scott Twine, Connor Coventry, Daniel Kemp, Max Watters, Theo Corbeanu, Troy Parrott, Brooklyn Ilunga. Photo: Alex Burstow