In-form Portsmouth five set for international call-ups - but it's not all good news for resurgent Blues

However, Danny Cowley admits that will leave them unable to even field a starting XI against Bolton on March 26.

The Blues face two-and-a-half weeks out of action following this weekend’s visit of Wycombe.

With Rotherham’s Wembley trip in the Papa John’s Trophy forcing the cancellation of their April 2 fixture, the encounter with Bolton will now follow suit.

That will leave Saturday, April 9 as the next scheduled fixture, with Pompey travelling to Cheltenham.

Gavin Bazunu (Republic of Ireland) and Joe Morrell (Wales) are to link-up with their countries, with the latter suspended but still required for a training camp.

In addition, Ronan Curtis has been named in the Republic of Ireland’s provisional squad alongside Bazunu for matches against Belgium (March 26) and Lithuania (March 29).

Elsewhere, back-up keeper Ollie Webber will be away on Northern Ireland’s under-21 duty, seeking to add to his three caps.

And completing the five could be Harry Jewitt-White, who has progressed through Wales’ age groups, making his under-18 debut against England in September.

Cowley told The News: ‘We think we are going to be without a game for two-and-a-half weeks if the Bolton game gets cancelled.

‘We would like to keep playing because we are in good form, but, ultimately, we can’t do that because if we did we’d be playing without Gavin Bazunu, Joe Morrell, Ronan Curtis and Ollie Webber.

‘We also hope Harry Jewitt-White is called up for Wales again. So that’s potentially five missing.

‘I don’t think we would be able to get an XI out for Bolton with the loss of all of those, so we don’t really have a choice in the matter.’

Bazunu and Curtis started Saturday’s goalless draw at Ipswich.

Morrell appeared as a second-half substitute, while Webber and Jewitt-White were unused off the bench.

All five will remain in the Blues’ squad for forthcoming games against Plymouth and Wycombe.

Cowley added: ‘The two-and-a-half week break should help us.

‘The players have given an incredible amount in a very small space of time, so it should allow us to find that balance between freshness and fitness.

‘That should give us a chance to freshen people up, to then allow us to have a good period on the training ground to be able to attack the final eight matches of the season.

‘Although, if we are honest, previously in the season when we’ve had these breaks it hasn’t helped us.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can support our local team of expert Pompey writers by subscribing here for all the latest news from Fratton Park for 9p a day, thanks to our 30%-off transfer window deal.