Jack Whatmough: I won't be going out on loan - I'm fighting for a Portsmouth place

And the defender revealed Kenny Jackett has personally reassured him that the Blues aren’t seeking to lend him to another club.

The 24-year-old marked his 99th Pompey outing in Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy victory over Colchester.

Replacing Paul Downing, it was another reminder of the centre-half’s talents as he continues to prove himself following a serious knee injury.

Eager to make up for lost time following enforced spells on the sidelines and opting to protect his family by not training during lockdown, Whatmough is desperate for regular first-team involvement.

And he intends to battle with Downing and Sean Raggett to feature for the club he loves.

He told The News: ‘This is the last year of my contract, I have to play games this season, no matter what.

‘I have spoken to the gaffer and he has reassured me that he doesn’t want me going out on loan.

‘If I’m honest, I don’t massively want to either.

‘If I'm not playing at all then I will have a conversation with the manager, but at the moment it's early stages and I won’t be making rash decisions about wanting to go out now.

‘Especially being football and at this club – when I know things can change.

‘I won’t make a rash decision and say I want to go out on loan – I want to stay here and play.

‘Burgey (Christian Burgess) was the same. He was umming and ahing about a loan decision last summer going into the final year of his deal. I guess I’m in a similar boat.

‘I don’t have to make a rash decision and go kicking down doors, that’s not me as a person and not really what I want to do.

‘I have a young family here settled, I don’t want to start going somewhere else in the country getting minutes if I can get my head down here and earn them.

‘If I can have an injury-free year that would settle all the doubts.’

Jackett has spent the summer scouring for a new centre-half following Burgess’ departure for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Charlie Mulgrew and Harry Souttar are among those he has eyed, but moves have not materialised.

Presently he has Whatmough, Downing and Raggett on his books, with James Bolton also capable of standing in.

Whatever the outcome of Jackett’s interest in a fresh face, Whatmough acknowledges it may come to a point where he has to seek loan football.

He added: ‘If the option comes about where I am not playing I may consider going out on loan.

‘I have to play games this year, I am in the last year of my contract. I have to play games.

‘Whether it's here or somewhere else, I need to get minutes.’

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