Lee Brown gives candid explanation on Portsmouth left-back battle with Birmingham loanee Steve Seddon

The left-back has had to be patient since returning from an Achilles operation last month.

Brown’s injury, coupled with Brandon Haunstrup’s knee setback, meant Seddon was recruited during the January transfer window.

The on-loan Birmingham ace has made a magnificent impact since his arrival, impressing with his marauding runs down the flank and dangerous set-piece deliveries.

Brown was an unused substitute for six games following his recovery before he replaced Seddon in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over MK Dons.

Boss Kenny Jackett now has to decide who’ll feature on the left-hand side of defence in tomorrow night’s clash against Rochdale and the highly-anticipated FA Cup tie with Arsenal on Monday.

And should Brown find himself back on the bench, he’ll have no complaints.

The vice-captain said: ‘Seddon is fantastic, I cannot speak highly enough of him as a person and a player.

‘He is a great addition to the squad, the manager has two full-backs he can trust now and whoever plays, if Seddon plays on Friday I will be the first one in saying all the best, make sure you get the points.

‘It’s a squad game, it doesn’t matter who plays, as long as Portsmouth Football Club get the points.

‘He made a few changes, have they worked, I don't know, but it’s a squad game, especially with the amount of fixtures we have and credit to the manager he has formed a good squads.

‘Seddon is very good I cannot speak highly enough of him, he has come in and done fantastically well, we can see that but it gives me a bit between my teeth as well, competition is very healthy.’

Brown also pinpointed that Haunstrup, who's been firmly out of favour since Seddon joined, shouldn’t be forgotten about.

He added: ‘There’s Brandon as well, which people are forgetting, so the manager has three good full-backs he can call upon.

‘There is no bitterness, Seddon was the first one in there saying all the best to me and I was the first one in there when he was playing.

‘There should never ever be bitterness amongst a squad.’