Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett's admission over lack of game time for former Charlton winger Reeco Hackett-Fairchild

Kenny Jackett admitted he’s unable to tell ‘frustrated’ Reeco Hackett-Fairchild when his Pompey chance will come.
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But the Blues boss has called on the winger to be ready to take his chance, with his career at Fratton Park still to get off the ground.

Hackett-Fairchild arrived in January from non-league Bromley, after making his mark at National League level following his summer release from Charlton.

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The 22-year-old has had to be content with just a single Pompey appearance to date, however, in the Leasing.com Trophy win at Walsall in January.

That’s been a disappointment for the Londoner and, with the season reaching a critical stage, that wait may have to go on.

Jackett acknowledged that’s a difficult place for Hackett-Fairchild to be, but the message to him is to be ready.

He said: ‘I’ve spoken to him a lot and it’s frustrating for him.

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‘He’s obviously frustrated because he’s worked hard and he’s wondering when his chance will come.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild. Picture: Paul Thompson/ProSportsImagesReeco Hackett-Fairchild. Picture: Paul Thompson/ProSportsImages
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild. Picture: Paul Thompson/ProSportsImages

‘That’s the thing and it’s hard for me to tell him exactly when and what’s going to happen in the future.

‘I also know, though, things change in football. It’s “I can’t tell you when but make sure you’re ready - it will happen”.

‘He’s waiting for his break, he has to be patient and, most importantly be ready when called upon.

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‘At the the moment, though, we need depth and we need speculation.

‘It will come for him at some stage and he will get a chance.’

With just a single senior game, it’s been reserve football and watching Hackett-Fairchild work at Pompey’s training base which has allowed staff to judge his progress.

He’s been utilised as a striker in reserve outings, but Jackett is currently considering the man, who bagged eight goals before his arrival, as a winger at present.

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Jackett added: ‘Training-wise and games-wise that we’ve had internally, his best position has been in the wide areas.

‘It’s been either wide left or wide right in our, say, 4-2-3-1 system.

‘He’s behind Curtis, Williams and Harness and it’s tough to shift those guys.

‘He’s come in as, say, a fourth-choice winger and, generally, I don’t pick two wingers on the bench. Maybe we need the other positions a little bit more.

‘So, anyway, he’s finding those three wide men hard to shift at the moment - but that will change.’

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