Kenny Jackett: It would be foolish not to rotate Portsmouth against Rochdale and Arsenal

The Blues boss freshened up his starting XI against MK Dons on Tuesday, overseeing five alterations.

That helped secure a 3-1 victory at Fratton Park to lift his side back into fifth spot.

Such are the quirks of the current fixture list, it marked a gruelling schedule of three games inside seven days for Pompey.

On Friday they entertain Rochdale, while Arsenal are the FA Cup visitors for Monday’s televised fifth-round fixture.

And blessed with a sizeable squad barely impacted by injury at present, Jackett acknowledged it would be sensible to once again rotate over forthcoming fixtures.

He said: ‘We’ll see about rotating again, I will have to think about that.

‘I was pleased about Tuesday, pleased with the energy of the players, and I thought we needed it to overcome an MK Dons side which played very well, so we will assess it.

‘I would be foolish to think the same players can play from start to finish on Tuesday, Friday and then Monday. That is three games in seven days.

‘I know we always say it as a manager, but usually it’s three games in eight days. Well, we have three in seven and that is going to need everybody.

‘I do think there will be changes, even if it’s off the bench.’

Aside from the long-term absence of Bryn Morris, Ellis Harrison is the only injury concern at present.

And he again remains a doubt for the League One visit of 19th-placed Rochdale.

Jackett added: ‘Ellis is still struggling with a dead leg he felt at Fleetwood, he had no chance on Tuesday and we will see how he goes for Friday.

‘I am not sure yet, next week we go Monday and Saturday, I don’t expect it to be any longer than that for him.

‘He is frustrated with it, but it’s quite high up and complicated, they don’t normally take this long.

‘We’ll see how he responds to treatment, hopefully we can get him back out and training.’