New signing Reeco Hackett-Fairchild sent message as he waits for his Portsmouth chance

Kenny Jackett expects to see the January arrival from Bromley in the first-team picture before the end of the campaign.

Hackett-Fairchild has been restricted to an EFL Trophy appearance at Walsall since becoming one of the three new Pompey faces this month.

The 22-year-old is building his fitness and Jackett has reassured him he will get an opportunity to show what he can do.

He said: ‘Between now and the end of the season he’ll get his chance.

‘I’ve spoken to him quite a bit. He came off the back of an injury and had a game very quickly at Walsall.

‘Everybody is fit and available so he hasn’t figured, but he will. He’s training hard and has to be ready.’

Hackett-Fairchild was on the score sheet in the Central League Cup draw at Plymouth earlier in the month as he led the line for his side.

That’s given Jackett food for thought with the pacy former Charlton man seen as one for the future.

He added: ‘We didn’t think he’d necessarily come straight into the team and he’d be a slow burner.

‘We’re happy with that because we don’t want to be out snatching at forwards. So it’s nice to have some inside we’re working with.

‘I didn’t think he’d push any of the three behind the striker straightaway.

‘But similarly we’ve had under-23 games, he’s played up front twice, linked the play really well and ran down the channels. So there’s some flexibility there as well over what he can do.

‘So it’ll be working out his best position when he comes into the league.

‘He’s a forward player, though, 6ft 2in with an eye for an goal.

‘I thought he’d be one of the three behind a striker, but he could develop into a nine.’