Kenny Jackett: Bryn Morris can feature in Portsmouth promotion push - but needs friendly action

The unfortunate midfielder has spent the past week participating in full training after finally resurfacing from his injury hell.

Morris last featured competitively for the Blues in May 2019, such has been the cruel extent of ongoing problems.

Now, following a double hernia operation, he is progressing encouragingly along the comeback trail.

Jackett won’t rule out a first-team outing for Morris this season – but firstly wants to provide him with friendly action.

Pompey’s boss said: ‘It’s nice to see Bryn out training, he has worked hard in terms of his overall fitness, so fair play to him.

‘He has returned outside with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and, I should think, frustration having missed it.

‘If he can get back into the side before the end of the season then great. There is a chance he can play again this year, definitely, although needs to play somewhere down the line.

‘We are talking about games, reserve games, in-house games.

‘I quite like in-house games, I think they're good. Once or twice a week you can have behind-closed-doors games among yourselves, which help players get match fit.

‘Similarly, you also want to arrange matches (friendlies), but have to see what the weather’s like.

‘March 24 is probably our next gap, we are trying for that date, but before then we’ll be having in-house games, such as the pro side against the under-18 side.’

Morris has made eight appearances and scored once since his January 2019 arrival from Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee.

And after travelling to Munich for surgery in October, he is finally nearing a return.

Jackett added: ‘Bryn’s tried different solutions and had a different specialist come at it from a different angle.

‘He has worked hard in the gym to get to that stage, very hard, and is reaping the rewards now because he has gone outside and is fine.

‘Maybe it’s down to a different approach to the same problem, perseverance, time settling it down, but he’s had no problems since he has been back outside.’