Kenny Jackett laments Portsmouth progress of 'unlucky' Duncan Turnbull

After capturing the highly-regarded American on a one-and-a-half year deal in March 2020, the Blues plotted non-league loan spells to drive his development.

However, with coronavirus devastating football outside the Premier League and Football League, such opportunities haven’t been possible.

Instead, the 22-year-old has been handed just two pre-season friendlies – then last month’s Papa John’s Trophy trip to Peterborough.

It’s a lack of match action Jackett feels has impeded Turnbull’s progress during his first year on these shores.

And the situation persuaded Pompey’s boss that the keeper was not ready to serve as a number two in Alex Bass’ injury absence.

Jackett told The News: ‘The goalkeeping position has been covered because of the injury to Alex Bass – and we felt both Duncan Turnbull and Taylor Seymour didn’t have enough experience.

‘Bringing Lewis Ward in has been a very good edition and I do think it strengthens us in that department.

‘Duncan has been unlucky. The plan was to have pre-season with us and then get out into non-league football and, like Reeco (Hackett-Fairchild) has done, try to build up a level with each loan.

‘That hasn’t happened because he hasn’t been able to have any games.

‘When you play your first game and it’s against Peterborough’s first-team and you haven’t played for six months, then it’s very, very difficult.

‘Whereas if he’d have had six months of football at the best level we could get him then he would have been able to get a foothold.

‘I did feel for both Duncan and Taylor in the Peterborough game, but they just haven’t had the game time in the first half of the season they would have got under normal circumstances.

‘It’s just unfortunate with the situation with the pandemic.

‘Whereas Lewis has a lot more experience and games under his belt – recent games as well.’

Turnbull’s Pompey deal expires this summer, although the club possess a 12-month option.

In the meantime, it appears an aborted three-week stay at Dulwich Hamlet during which he failed to make an appearance may have offered his only chance of loan experience during the current season.

Jackett added: ‘It was a funny situation (at Dulwich) where he got halfway down there and they didn’t play him for whatever reason.’

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