Jack Whatmough pinpoints his Portsmouth ambition after landmark occasion against Shrewsbury

The defender registered the landmark in Saturday’s goalless League One opener against Shrewsbury.

It has been three years, four months and 15 days since he celebrated his 50th outing.

It’s reflection of the injury problems the talented Whatmough has been forced to endure.

Yet he was selected ahead of Paul Downing to face the Shrews to make it to 100 – and he’s set his sights on many more.

He told The News: ‘After hitting the 50th, I was partnering Matt Clarke and can remember looking at the possibility of playing all the games and cup competitions in a season, potentially 60 games.

‘Playing the majority of those would have meant me hitting 100 at the end of that campaign.

‘So you do look at it, it’s a good milestone to hit for any player. Now I’m looking at the 150th game and the 200th, so you push on.

‘I must have been in the 90s for a year-and-a-half. I probably have the longest record for it!

‘You do look at it and want to hit those milestones, I’m glad I’ve got that one ticked off now and can move forward and look for 150 now.

‘This is my home-town club - and I’m looking to the next 100 games here. I don’t think there’s a better club to play for, especially in this league.

‘Growing up here as well, it means a lot more for me, Ben Close and Alex Bass, the lads that have come through here.

‘I would have hoped to have reached the landmark a lot earlier, but injuries have held me back, I do know that.

‘Now I’m looking forward – and hopefully will reach 150 quite quickly.’

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Whatmough has long retained a keen interest in his running appearance tally for the Blues.

And he had been monitoring it through the club programme in the years since making his debut in November 2013.

He added: ‘Reading the programme is a bit of a routine for me before games.

‘I read what’s coming up – it’s the last thing I look at. I’m always looking for what player is going to hit what.

‘It’s a bit of a superstition with the programme, so not having any at the moment is killing it!’

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