Portsmouth boss outlines approach to bombshell coronavirus news as he speaks for first time since positive tests

The Blues boss revealed he’s sought advice from across football to develop a policy on how to tackle the swathe of issues created by four of his first-team squad being infected by Covid-19.

Andy Cannon, Sean Raggett, Haji Mnoga and James Bolton are recovering after being informed last week they’d contracted the virus following the outbreak.

That development saw Pompey once again at the heart of the coronavirus, as Jackett found himself in a position unlike any other he’d faced in his long managerial career.

Speaking for the first time since the players tested positive, Jackett explained putting the safety of all associated with the club first while showing humility to the infected players were his priorities.

Jackett said: ‘From my point of view as a manager I’m doing everything I can to support the players.

‘I’m keeping constant communication with them and there’s individual fitness programmes as well as showing some care.

‘In their situations and family situations they are all quite different. So it’s supporting players

‘I’ve spoken to plenty of managers about what they’re doing and how they’re keeping their players fit, the methods and measures they’ve been doing. That’s where it is at the moment.

‘They don’t generally deal with this one on the coaching courses.

‘But we’ve spoken to plenty of people, physios, managers and Mark (Catlin) would have spoken to plenty of chief-execs.

‘The main thing is the constant contact with the players and their own situations, fitness and own programmes.

‘Everyone’s situation is different. Do you live with your parents? Which age group are they in? Then if you’re going out to get food you need to discuss situations like that. As I said, everyone is different.

‘There may be someone like Duncan (Turnbull) who’s with his grandparents while he’s been on trial. They are both in their 80s, so every situation is different.

‘So we’re being supportive and trying to help them to find the best way around it.

‘It’s constant communication and trying to support people.’

Jackett delivered positive news over the health of the four infected players who are self-isolating and no longer showing any symptoms associated with coronavirus.

Pompey will continue to closely monitor their health as they continue their recoveries.

Jackett said: ‘I spoke to the four boys who tested positive this morning.

‘They are all in good spirits. They’re in self-isolation being looked after well, but all feel good in themselves.

‘The tests were on Tuesday and came back at different times during the course of last week.

‘Those four guys got their results on Thursday and by today they were all feeling okay.

‘They have no symptoms and feel quite good in themselves.’