Portsmouth defend Alex Bass loan decision after injury setback on Southend debut

Yet the Blues are now waiting to learn whether the keeper faces a further spell on the sidelines after being forced off at half-time on his debut.

Bass was handed a start for the League Two side against Salford on Saturday – hours after arriving on an emergency loan from Pompey.

Jackett insists the 22-year-old had been back in training for two weeks following a training ground collision at the turn of the year which fractured his leg.

Worryingly, though, the Academy product could have already suffered an injury setback.

Pompey’s boss told The News: ‘For Alex, it was perfect timing really, coming back to get some games at the end of his recovery and rehabilitation.

‘Hopefully it’s not too bad at Southend, I will speak to him and see what the problem is.

‘He trained last week, he’s been back two weeks really. He trained on Thursday and Friday and we did feel medically he was 100 per cent – and has been for at least a fortnight.

‘With the injury, they rescanned it, things had healed inside.

‘It was bang on eight weeks since his injury and the original assessment was six weeks, so we do feel the work was done and the opportunity was there.

‘We did feel there wouldn’t be any more injury problems, but he has come off at half-time for Southend. I don’t know the details of that, I shall speak to him and hopefully he’s okay.

‘It was hopefully going to be the perfect rehab. Coming back, you want to try to get back into it and play – should he be needed here or to go elsewhere and compete.’

With Bass forced off at half-time at Roots Hall, he was replaced by teenager Harry Seaden.

The League Two strugglers went on to register a goalless draw against Salford, leaving them one place above the relegation zone.

Fellow loanee from Pompey, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, also lined up for the Shrimpers, completing the full 90 minutes.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.