Portsmouth admit fear over 'hindered' development of highly-promising youngsters

With the vast majority of non-league football suspended, third-year scholars Alfie Stanley, Harry Kavanagh, Gerard Storey and Eoin Teggart have been denied loan moves.

In addition, Taylor Seymour made his Blues bow at Peterborough on Tuesday night – despite not having a single youth or reserve outing this season.

The crucial lack of match minutes is a consequence of the covid situation rather than the fault of football clubs.

Nonetheless, without loan switches, players are being denied the chance to flourish on the football pitch.

And that is likely to hamper their Fratton Park future.

Assistant boss Gallen told The News: ‘The development part of football is playing in the games and waiting for opportunities.

‘As part of the circumstances during the current climate we found ourselves in, that is not happening.

‘For them, that’s pretty disappointing and is hindering their development as players, no doubt.

‘It’s no-one’s fault, there is no way round it as it stands.

‘They have been training with us for a while, but training is training. It’s important that if you can’t play then you’ve got to train, which we have been doing.

‘In terms of the younger players, the development really is within the game programme and playing regular 11 v 11.

‘For them they need to be playing men’s football all the time – and that has been stopped.

‘That is a hindrance for them - and, for us as a club, trying to develop your own players.’

In the case of Storey and Teggart, they have recently found first-team opportunity in their native Northern Ireland.

The pair this week joined Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville respectively,

However, a two-week circuit breaker has now been implemented, with the leagues scheduled to resume on January 23 after a hiatus.

Still, they will be presented with the chance to blossom through match action – a route the Blues cannot offer in this country.

Particularly following elimination in the Papa John’s Trophy at the hands of Peterborough on Tuesday, with Kavanagh, Alfie Bridgman, Charlie, Bell, Harvey Rew, Harry Jewitt-White and Seymour granted appearances.

Gallen added: ‘The lack of games for the lads is something we can’t do anything about.

‘And it’s something we have to overcome.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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