How technology is ensuring absent Kenny Jackett still makes the decisions on a Portsmouth match-day

And Joe Gallen revealed the Blues are also weighing up introducing a video link-up inside the dressing room for communication with players.

Jackett is today scheduled to undergo an operation to remove a mole from his forearm.

The necessity to self-isolate ahead of the procedure forced his absence at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night, with the 59-year-old expected to also miss a further four Pompey matches.

However, for the disappointing 3-1 Memorial Stadium defeat, Jackett was on the end of a phone with Gallen.

And they will maintain that match-day dialogue on Saturday.

Gallen told The News: ‘I’ve worked with Kenny for a long time and know his thought process. So approach things how he wants them.

‘I would usually take the meetings anyway prior to the game, so that wouldn’t be too different.

‘Kenny did, though, phone quite a few times during the game and I spoke to him at half-time. They were good chats about how we were going to get back into it.

‘It is unusual, I’ve not had that before. It is what it is, though, you’ve just got to get on with it.

‘At Bristol Rovers, we didn’t really have time for a video link-up, but I can totally see that being the case in the next few games.

‘Obviously we have Blackpool and Oxford United coming up and I can see that being an option for us – and him.

‘And really, the decision side of things isn’t too different.’

With the Blues trailing 2-1 at the interval at Rovers, a triple substitution was introduced.

It consisted of James Bolton, Charlie Daniels and Ronan Curtis replaced by Rasmus Nicolaisen, Lee Brown and Marcus Harness.

Ultimately, their presence couldn’t prevent a 3-1 loss as the hosts collected a first win in 11 fixtures.

And Gallen admitted the manager was the driving force behind the triple change.

He added: ‘It was Kenny’s idea. He was watching and just thought that’s what he wanted to do.

‘As ever, there was some discussion, but he calls the shots as manager.

‘No disrespect to the people who played the first half – because we need the whole squad here – but in the second half I thought offensively we were pretty good and played some good stuff.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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