Kenny Jackett pinpoints impressive Callum Johnson and Cameron Pring for Portsmouth League One opener

And both Cameron Pring and Callum Johnson are in the frame to face Shrewsbury in Saturday’s League One opener.

The pair were handed their Blues bow in last night’s 2-0 win over Colchester in the EFL Trophy.

They replaced Lee Brown and James Bolton, who instead occupied the bench and were unused.

Johnson had arrived from Accrington on Monday for an undisclosed fee, spending just one training session with his new team-mates.

While for Pring, it represented a competitive debut after joining on loan from Bristol City a week earlier.

And Jackett was delighted with their displays in the behind-closed-doors encounter at Fratton Park.

He told The News: ‘I wanted to get them out there at Fratton Park, get them out onto the pitch and into a blue shirt as quickly as possible.

‘From my point of view, I was pleased with what they did last night. They are good additions for our season and will contribute.

‘Johnson’s had a good couple of seasons at Accrington. He is a specialist right-back and hopefully can combine a solid defensive game with some good attacking play down the right-hand side.

‘Similarly, Pring has the power to both be solid defensively and compete. I want my full-backs to go and make the play and join in with the winger because it gives you more options.

‘If you leave everything to the winger and the number 10 it’s a tall order sometimes. You need the decoy run, you need the football, you need to be able to really attack in those wide areas.

‘When my sides play at their best that’s our game. We get the ball wide, we get the ball into good areas and create from there.’

Brown and Bolton will now be looking over their shoulders with Saturday looming.

Both had been first choice during the pre-season campaign, including the Carabao Cup victory at Stevenage.

Now their places are under threat from the young newcomers who produced such encouraging debuts against Colchester.

But Jackett insists there remain parts to play for Brown and Bolton.

He added: ‘They are two good players and we are going to need them.

‘We are looking at eight games in October and – should we beat Brighton – that always leaves us Saturday and Tuesday now until November.

‘There’s no way you can just do it with 11 players, you do need a squad if you are going to be successful.

‘The congestion coming with the games and the fact we hopefully can attack the cups as well, we are going to need both Lee and James.

‘They are both good players and there will be days for those.’

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