Jordy Hiwula paid the price as Hull quality had Portsmouth worried

The striker was surprisingly left out of Saturday’s match-day 18 – for the first time since his October arrival.

Instead, Kenny Jackett opted to recall out-of-favour right-back James Bolton to replace him among the substitutes.

As a consequence, it left Ellis Harrison as the sole forward on the bench for what unfolded as a humiliating 4-0 loss for the Fratton Park hosts.

However, Pompey’s assistant manager insists Hiwula could be involved in tomorrow night’s visit of Lincoln.

Gallen told The News: ‘I spoke to Jordy this morning, he was over his disappointment.

‘He will be disappointed, but understands there’s a lot of competition, a lot of good players. Promotion-winning squads usually have a lot of good players.

‘The thinking behind Saturday was that Keane Lewis-Potter, Gavin Whyte and Mallik Wilks are all wide players – and Championship players.

‘We felt not having a natural full-back on the bench considering the calibre of those three wouldn’t have been the right way to go.

‘So we changed it to having James Bolton on the bench as a full-back option to bring on.

‘Against Wimbledon we didn’t have that, we would have had to put someone out of position to cover the full-back spot.

‘All these calls are very, very close, you just weigh up the opposition and your own squad.

‘Lewis-Potter, Wilks and Whyte are wide players. One played up front, mainly Wilks, but he’s a wide player really.

‘To go into that game and not have cover for the full-backs was ultimately too risky on that particular game.’

Before Saturday, Hiwula had been named in 20 successive Pompey squads in all competitions.

However, he has still made just seven appearances for the Blues, with none in the league since November 21 against Crewe.

Gallen added: ‘We’ve got a healthy squad, a good squad.

‘But there will be some disappointed players tomorrow night not in the starting line-up or not on the bench.

‘There are so many games, so all players have to remain positive, stay fit and then, when called upon, do themselves justice.’

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