Kenny Jackett handed Portsmouth squad boost as he eyes promotion goal

The suspension of football, which is now approaching seven weeks, has allowed the Blues’ treatment room to clear up.

And that leaves Kenny Jackett with his entire 26-man first-team squad at his disposal for at least nine more league matches.

Heading into the scheduled visit of Accrington Stanley on March 14, Pompey had Ben Close (ankle) and Sean Raggett (hamstring) sidelined.

In addition, Bryn Morris had recently made his reserve-team comeback following long-term absence, yet was not regarded as ready for first-team consideration.

Now all three have been declared fit and are maintaining individual training programmes along with their team-mates during lockdown.

Morris had been sidelined since July, while Jack Whatmough returned in January following his lengthy spell injured.

And Pompey await to see whether the 2019-20 season will recommence.

Jackett said: ‘All the injuries we had have now cleared up in the six weeks we’ve had off,

‘They are all well in terms of their individual circumstances.

‘Bryn was coming back, Ben Close was off and Raggett had a very slight hamstring which would have seen him miss a couple of games. They are all fine now.

‘No-one in the squad needs day-to-day support, which is good. We have a full squad to pick from’

‘This period has given people time to recuperate and get back to being 100 per cent. The only thing is everybody else will have been able to do that at the same time.

‘You have got to think everybody will be recharged. Even though it’s a nine-game season, it will feel like a new season because everybody’s had a bit of a break.

‘From our point of view, we want to be fit, ready and to hit the ground running.

‘And we have a squad without injury to help us do that.’

In addition, Adam May is now available after returning from his Boreham Wood loan following the scrapping of the National League campaign.

Elsewhere, third-year scholar Joe Hancott continues to progress from the cruciate knee ligament damage sustained in October.

Jackett added: ‘When we get back to football, it means there will have been progress in dealing with coronavirus.

‘How we go on from here is going to be the difficult part – and where football fits in with that.’