Portsmouth boss Kenny Jacket tackles prospect of Fratton return for ex-Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Sheffield United defender

The new squad restriction rules and the Blues’ ample defensive options will prevent a return to Fratton Park for the centre-back.

But with Pompey working to a squad limit of 22 senior players under the new rules voted for in August, all of their positions are allocated.

Jackett explained he’s looking to the January window for potential changes, but anticipates business will be minimal.

He said: ‘We have our quota of players at the moment.

‘We also have a high quota of defenders, who I feel are very good defenders.

‘We’re looking at options for January but we don’t envisage big changes in January.

‘We’ll see what we need, and what we think we need, when we get there.’

Pompey currently have Jack Whatmough, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Sean Raggett and Paul Downing as out-and-out central defensive options.

On top of that, there’s Haji Mnoga, James Bolton and Tom Naylor who are all players who can be utilised in the middle of defence.

Jackett added: ‘We’ll see what happens in January, but, at the moment, we look quite well off for defenders and centre-backs.

‘Jack played well on Monday. He’s got good distribution and slotted some nice passes through.

‘He’s done well to come back. He’s had a lot of games, a week or two out and then back out again.’

‘So I think we’re quite strong in that area.’

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