Kenny Jackett: This is why I wanted to keep Lee Brown at Portsmouth

And the Blues boss believes the defender has the experience to brush off the criticism he’s faced after committing his future to the club.

Brown agreed a new two-year deal at Fratton Park last week, in a move which was completed before the salary cap’s implementation along with Sean Raggett arriving.

There was a mixed response to that news, with some fans hoping for more exciting forward-thinking options to arrive before the Friday vote for a wage cap.

It also underlined to others Steve Seddon would not be arriving this summer, after impressing in a loan stat over the second half of the campaign.

The hopes of that move developing receded after Birmingham slapped a weighty price tag on the left-back, who looks like he may be wanted if one of their prized assets moves on this summer in Kristian Pedersen.

With Brandon Haunstrup moving to Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock it heightened the need to retain Brown’s services.

Jackett has faith in the former QPR man to show his value, after proving to be a solid and dependable part of his set-up over the past two years.

The 30-year-old was slowed by injury issues last term, but the Pompey boss feels the club’s vice-captain proved he was over his Achilles problem with two strong play-off showings against Oxford United.

Jackett said: ‘Lee has been good in his time with us. It was a tough season for him last year with his Achilles problems.

‘But I think he proved in the play-offs that he’s over that and last season was a tough one for him because of injury.

‘Like I said, he was very good in the play-off games and proved in that training period and those games that he was back to 100 per cent.

‘He’s an experienced player and the left-back position is a specialised role.

‘You don’t want to put someone there who hasn’t necessarily got the skillset who won’t be able to handle it there.

‘I have a lot of confidence in Lee defensively and going forward.

‘Unfortunately that (criticism) is part of life and you have to keep going and, where needed, to continue to prove yourself. He has the quality and experience to be able to do that.’

Brown spent much of last season troubled by the Achilles issue which eventually led to him going under the knife and missing two-and-a-half months of the season.

That limited his potential to add to the 72 appearances he’s made since joining the club two years ago.

Jackett feels his performances were hindered by playing on with the issue too long, before taking the necessary measures to rectify the issue.

He added: ‘Lee was trying to play through his injury and it was difficult for him.

‘During the first half of the season, he wasn’t 100 per cent and you don’t want to have an operation unless you really need to.

‘It did hamper him and when he did come back, he had some good games but it’s hard to find your fitness.

‘Once we had the break, he then really did get himself fit and throughout that training period he got himself fit.

‘In the play-off games, he proved to me that last year’s Achilles injury was behind him and he’s back to his best.’

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