Kenny Jackett: Situations can change - Portsmouth places up for grabs against Oxford United

And he is adamant places are still up for grabs ahead of the play-off semi-final against Oxford United.

It has been 14 weeks since the Blues drew 2-2 with Fleetwood at Fratton Park.

That March result subsequently ensured both sides’ presence in the play-offs once the unweighted points per game model was employed to calculate the final league table.

Now Pompey’s focus is on the July 3 visit of Oxford United to Fratton Park in the first leg.

That period of match inactivity comfortably surpasses the traditional pre-season timeframe.

And, compared when the Blues faced Fleetwood, Jackett concedes a different side may now be employed.

He told The News: ‘There are obviously a few places up for grabs.

‘Like at the start of any season, how people finish off doesn't really reflect how they start – and it has been a long break.

‘Situations can change, but also there is a good hunger among the group. We have a good idea of where we want to go in terms of the line-up for the Oxford game.

‘Players can come through, I wouldn’t ignore that, despite having ideas about reliability and people who can do it on the day.

‘Similarly, if someone shines and forces their way into the team, that will have to be the case at any time.

‘Overall, they are very fit, there’s a good focus there, and I noticed a very good tempo in Sunday’s friednly. They enjoyed it.’

Following two players testing positive for coronavirus, Pompey have now recorded two rounds of all-clear results, most recently today.

That’s an encouraging scenario for a squad who have been in training and employing full contact since the start of last week.

Aside from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, presently sidelined with a quad injury, Jackett has a full squad at his disposal.

However, he remains wary of the ongoing threat of coronavirus at Pompey’s Hilsea training base.

He added: ‘We are back now to normal competitive training.

‘However, you must still use your common sense, spread out where you can.

‘If you can do some technical work, some tactical work, which doesn’t bring full contact all of the time then you do that – but there still has to be competitive training which gets you match fit.

‘We are getting that balance right between the two.

‘Some people have been really working hard through lockdown and keeping themselves really fit physically. Maybe others have drifted a little.

‘You need some uniformity across the squad, but also to be able to monitor the environment you’re in and try to keep everybody coronavirus free.’

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