Kenny Jackett: Portsmouth transfer business not over - despite double swoop

On the day the Blues’ promotion aspirations suffered a 4-0 humiliation against Hull, the Blues announced the signings of Charlie Daniels and George Byers.

Daniels’ arrival on a free transfer had been long anticipated and the 34-year-old joins for the remainder of the season.

In addition, Byers, an attacking midfielder, comes on loan from Swansea.

The transfer window closes at 11pm on February 1 – with Jackett adamant one more spot remains.

And the Blues boss will continue to scour for recruitments in the time available.

He told The News: ‘We’ve had three in and three out so far, but there is one space left for a player over 21.

‘There’s nothing imminent at the moment, but we have that space and we’ll see if it changes within the next week.

‘We are always assessing our squad and seeing what is there and who is around.

‘We will try to assess the goalkeeping situation, it is a key position, definitely.

‘Within a week the window will close and the squad will be the squad and things can change and it’s out of your control as a manager.

‘You try to build in the January period to be as strong as possible and create some competition, but unfortunately you can’t do it with 11.’

Jackett’s insistence that he has one spot left is intriguing.

As it stands, Pompey can potentially register 19 outfield players in their permitted 22-man squad.

Craig MacGillivray, Duncan Turnbull and the injured Alex Bass would then take the squad up to its maximum.

However, Jackett is loath to use three of his registrations on goalkeepers.

The only way he can create another space is by either not counting a goalkeeper – or declining to register one of his existing outfield players.

Still, Pompey’s boss has finally got his man with the arrival of Daniels to challenge Lee Brown at left-back.

Jackett added: ‘Lee has done very well, but there is no way we were going to leave it with no other specialist left-back.

‘Lee has been out at times for us so far this season, hopefully he won’t be any more, he has done well for us.

‘Similarly, if he’s not around or if Charlie gets in and holds the shirt, that’s where it is.

‘Charlie has played 16 games so far this season in League One, which is very good.

‘We’ve been following him, have spoken to his agent and watched him in the first half of the season as well.

‘When Cameron Pring went back it’s a position we had to address.

‘We are pleased he has signed for us and I think will bring both experience and a very good left foot.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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