Rich Hughes' left-back admission as Portsmouth weigh up shelving transfer hunt

Rich Hughes admits Pompey have left-back targets ‘we like’ - but has warned the club may decide against adding to the position in January.

And he points to the impending injury returns of Connor Ogilvie and Jacob Farrell as potentially ruling out the need to dip into the transfer market in that department.

With Ogilvie out with a knee issue and Farrell’s groin issue continuing to trouble him, right-footed pair Jordan Williams and Zak Swanson have instead deputised in the left-back or left wing-back role of late.

Certainly the duo shone in the unfamiliar position on Saturday, with both netting stunning goals in the 3-1 triumph over Millwall.

Yet while Pompey’s sporting director is scouring the transfer market for a left-back contingency plan, they may well opt not to strengthen after all.

Portsmouth chief: We can’t affect it until the window opens

Speaking at Monday night’s Pompey Supporters’ Trust Q&A, Hughes told The News: ‘Connor will be back around the January window, hopefully Jacob Farrell will be back as well.

‘We can’t affect it until the window opens in five weeks, so we’ll have a clearer assessment of the situation then. If it’s one we need to deal with, we’ll be compiling a list.

‘We have a few players who we like in that position, we’ll see if we can make something work and adapt if and when it’s needed.

‘That’s also the point, there are nine games between now and when the window opens, you might pick up an injury somewhere else. Everything comes back to plan and it’s in a much more healthy situation.

‘For instance, we’re hoping Jacob will be back this side of Christmas. It’s a strain overload injury, so we’re managing him back through and adjusting his pain thresholds, so hopefully he’s back in the group.

‘Then people can see the player we brought into the football club. We saw far too much of a fleeting glimpse against Sheffield United and Reading at the start of the season.

‘But we’ll plan for as many eventualities as we can and then adapt to the ones which we need to take action.’

Cohen Bramall

Last January, with Farrell ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing a knee option, Pompey raided the transfer market for another left-back.

In the final days of that window, Cohen Bramall was recruited from Rotherham for an undisclosed fee on a deal until the season’s end.

Providing competition to Ogilvie, the former Arsenal man featured on the left wing, as well as four starts at left-back, as he made a favourable impact, totalling 12 appearances.

Now the Blues could again strengthen the position in the forthcoming January transfer window.

‘It’s always hard to figure out’

Hughes added: ‘We probably didn’t go into the January window last year anticipating to sign Cohen Bramall, but it was a good opportunity for us to do so - and a nice pick up for a short period of time to help us balance the group.

‘It’s always hard to figure out where it may or may not be as we move forward, but we’ll stay on top of it and take action should we need to.’

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