Meet the man entrusted with overseeing Portsmouth's promotion ambition in Kenny Jackett absence

Certainly Pompey’s boss has no qualms handing over the reins to Joe Gallen while he is otherwise indisposed.

Jackett has intimated that tonight’s trip to Bristol Rovers (7pm) will be his last before undergoing an operation to remove a mole from his forearm.

During an expected two-week recovery period, Gallen will step up to oversee the Blues.

Although Jackett will remain involved from afar and continue to help pick the team, it will be his assistant in charge of day-to-day running.

Gallen will be flanked by first-team coach Jake Wigley, while former Leeds and Watford assistant Nigel Gibbs is to join on a temporary basis at the week’s end.

And Jackett has no concerns over how Gallen will respond to his new responsibilities.

Jackett told The News: ‘Joe is very experienced in his own right and fully capable in terms of management and coaching.

‘We’ve worked together well at different clubs over a number of years and he will be able to assess situations. He is fully capable of that.

‘I am very confident of him in terms of management and coaching.

‘He’s part of the whole process for when every team picked and every decision made as. While it is the manager’s responsibility and ultimate decision, as assistant manager you are very much involved.

‘He’s very experienced and very capable in his own right in terms of management and coaching.’

Gallen first linked up with Jackett at Millwall in 2007, before following him to Wolves, Rotherham and then Pompey.

He has regularly taken a lead role in EFL Trophy fixtures, particularly when younger sides have been selected.

Meanwhile, first-team coach Wigley, the son of former Pompey player Steve, has been at Fratton Park since June 2018.

He was previously with Nottingham Forest’s under-18s.

Jackett added: ‘Jake has a lot of ability, particularly on the training ground.

‘The players do enjoy his sessions and that continuity, which is good news.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.