Joe Gallen's message to Portsmouth youngsters ahead of West Ham under-21s Trophy battle

The Blues are set to call upon their young guns as they juggle their promotion ambitions with runs in both the FA Cup and Papa John’s Trophy.

Youngsters Harvey Rew, Eoin Teggart, Alfie Stanley, Gerard Storey and Harry Kavanagh are all expected to feature at some point in tonight’s EFL Trophy game against West Ham’s under-21s (7pm).

Both Rew and Teggart have made the step up before, making their debuts in the competition last season against Oxford and Norwich under-21s respectively.

SEE ALSO: Who are the Pompey youngsters set to feature against West Ham?

However, a maiden run-out for the seniors is something that has so far eluded the other three.

Now they’re on the brink of being handed their chance to show what they can do.

Both Gallen and manager Kenny Jackett will be watching intently to see how they fare under the spotlight.

But the message will be clear and simple before kick-off: show us you can contribute to this season’s goals and set yourself on the right track for the future.

Confirming the intention to blood some of the club’s youngsters against the Hammers’ under-21s, Gallen said: ‘We have Harvey Rew, Harry Kavanagh, we have Alfie Stanley, we have Eoin Teggart, Gerry Storey.

‘Haji Mnoga is in the group, too, but he has got to be considered a member of the first-team squad now.

‘All these lads I mentioned, the majority will be starting and the others will be substitutes and coming on.

‘There’s a chance for them to show what they can do.

‘Harvey played against Oxford last season and will be playing. He has a very gifted left foot and it will be good to see how he has progressed since last year.

‘With these young lads, we are looking for anyone who can help us have a successful season, that’s first and foremost because that’s what we are here to do, to try to have a successful season.

‘If one or two or any of these young lads can help us achieve that then that will be brilliant for us.

‘But that’s short-term.

‘Long-term it’s great for the club to be able to develop their own players and you get an inkling on someone as they play, how they play night as to how they develop going forward.’

Pompey have already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Papa John’s Trophy following previous Southern Group A wins against Colchester and Southend.

On Monday night, the Blues were drawn against non-league King’s Lynn Town in the second round of the FA Cup, following Saturday's extra-time win at Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Jackett’s side sit seventh in the League One table after 11 games played.

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