Portsmouth make decision over sending first-team players out on loan

The Blues will look to get promising American keeper Duncan Turnbull out playing football away from Fratton Park on a temporary basis.

But Kenny Jackett is not looking to manoeuvre his options by sending any other first-team players out to pick up minutes.

Pompey are currently working with a group of 20 first-team players, with that number including 18-year-old Haji Mnoga.

With a squad of 22 players allowed over the age of 21, it means there’s space for a further three new faces.

Jack Whatmough was mooted as a player who could gain minutes away from PO4 as he ramps up his injury return, but after assessing their options assistant Joe Gallen explained no outfield players are expected to depart.

He said ‘We probably won’t (send any players out on loan).

‘We’re probably looking to keep everybody we’ve got, which isn’t many.

‘We think the number of players we’ve got is pretty manageable, we’ll be able to keep the spirit and give or take a few injuries.

‘Everyone is going to be playing or on the bench - and that lends itself to a tighter-knit group.’

Turnbull turned out for Hawks on Saturday and Gallen believes the giant American keeper now needs playing time after joining Pompey in March.

He added: ‘With Duncan, I’m not sure a lot of people know about him.

‘So he needs to get out there somewhere along the line, play for someone on a Saturday afternoon and build up his reputation.

‘He needs to build up his experience, so he’s the one who more than likely will go out loan. It’d be a loan where we could get him back immediately if we needed to.’

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.