Lee Brown offers Portsmouth promotion boost amid frustration of squad coronavirus outbreak

And the left-back could even be back available for the January 2 trip to Accrington.

The Blues’ vice-captain was anticipated to miss four matches following the aggravation of his hamstring problem.

However, that absence has been slashed in half after the postponement of matches with Swindon and Bristol Rovers through coronavirus.

Cameron Pring had admirably deputised against Fleetwood and Hull, a spell yielding four points and two clean sheets.

But Kenny Jackett is now pencilling in Brown for first-team consideration for their opening match of 2021 at Accrington.

And that would signal the experienced defender missing just two matches from their League One promotion challenge.

Pompey’s boss told The News: ‘Lee is coming back well, I am pleased with his progress.

‘With coronavirus (in the camp), he will have to stay away, but I have spoken to him about working from home and he can do that.

‘He is working well and working hard. Lee’s an experienced pro and I wouldn’t rule out Accrington for him.

‘He will be there or thereabouts, that’s how it looks at the moment, he could be training next week.

‘It doesn’t look to be a long-term issue at the moment. He’s outside running, we will see how the week goes for him and how he feels.’

Brown is presently the sole Pompey player on the treatment table.

Although five members have been diagnosed with Coronavirus since the December 18 trip to Hull.

Brown himself didn’t travel to the KCOM Stadium, being sidelined by the hamstring injury he sustained in the 2-0 victory at Ipswich earlier this month.

Perhaps a fortuitous absence considering the number of team-mates to emerge from that game testing positive for the pandemic.

While Hull have also suffered an outbreak since that match and their December 29 fixture with Lincoln has been suspended.

They were already out of action on Boxing Day after opponents Sunderland had earlier called off through coronavirus in their camp.

Regardless, Brown is not one of the five affected at Fratton Park, of which just Jack Whatmough has been publicly named.

And while last week the Blues’ Hilsea-based training ground was shut and padlocked, the 30-year-old instead worked on rehab at his Surrey home.

Jackett added: ‘At the moment, Lee is the only player injured.

‘From talking to him, he does know his body and had a similar hamstring problem earlier in the season, so has already been working away from the training ground.

‘He could possibly be back out there with the group next week when we all return.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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