Kenny Jackett reveals personal touch to assure Portsmouth players' mental well-being

The Blues boss has made a point of ringing up each member of his first-team squad every three days as the pandemic continues to devastate society.

Pompey’s players have been assigned training programmes to aid with maintaining their fitness while away from their Copnor Road training base.

However, Jackett is also keen to monitor the players’ state of mind during this period of self-isolation and social distancing.

As a consequence, he has remained in touch with his squad over the phone, offering a sympathetic ear should it be required.

And Pompey’s boss is hopeful that offer of support can be comforting to his players during the wait for League One to resume.

Jackett told The News: ‘I speak to all the players every three days, I ring them up.

‘In terms of my two fitness coaches, Jeff Lewis and Jack Hughes, they are also in constant touch, putting the programmes up and making sure they get the data back.

‘For me, talking is a good gauge. While we can send training programmes to them, I do like to try hard, as a club, to support the players.

‘As a manager, you have to support the players – and mental health does overlap with physical health.

‘It’s about each player’s own personal situation, their family situation, what they can and can’t do, and then you talk about how that particular individual needs to keep as fit as possible and to be prepared.

‘We have continued to talk and they have all been fine. As we all know, there is a great cause here, in terms of the overall country and the world situation.

‘There is a bigger and wider situation and making sure we enforce social distancing to help society.’

Meanwhile, Gareth Evans has become the latest member of the Blues squad to become a father this season.

His wife, Hazel, has given birth to Atlas, the Knowle-based couple’s first child.

Ellis Harrison missed Pompey’s trip to Peterborough last month following the birth of his first child, while Oli Hawkins became a father in December.

In addition, John Marquis’ fiancee gave birth in August, shortly after the striker was signed from Doncaster.

And Jackett has spoken to Evans to send him his best wishes

He added: ‘Many congratulations to Gareth and Hazel for their first born.

‘Their son was a little overdue, it has been quite an anxious time, but in the end a happy time as well.

‘I have spoken to Gareth, he is okay and obviously relieved – and very pleased too.’

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