The Portsmouth midfielder facing yet another test of his Fratton Park credentials

But the exclusion of Ben Close from both match-day squads against Oxford shouldn’t be overlooked.

The shock recall of Bryn Morris after a 14-month absence meant there was no room for the Southsea lad in Kenny Jackett’s set-up for either leg of the semi-final.

Despite an increased quota of substitutions, Close couldn’t earn himself a place on the bench – never mind a spot in the starting XI.

And after such disappointment, the 23-year-old has gone into the summer in a starkly contrasting position to the one he found himself in last year.

This time 12 months ago, Close was preparing to build on an outstanding 2018-19 season.

In the final 20 games of that campaign, he struck eight goals – including fine finishes against Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Burton and Accrington.

Indeed, Close demonstrated he had taken his game to the next level.

No longer was he being regarded as an upcoming League One midfielder – rather, a player whose career looked destined for higher things.

Close's upward trajectory continued at the start of this campaign.

A sumptuous volley in the Carabao Cup win over Birmingham was somehow comprehensively surpassed by a postage-stamp effort in the swirling wind against Tranmere.

A strike that will surely earn him Pompey goal-of-the-season honours.

And while his incredible scoring rate couldn't continue, his partnership with Tom Naylor in the Blues engine room was Jackett’s preferred choice.

On a personal level, everything was going according to plan.

That would change, however, following Cameron McGeehan's arrival from Barnsley.

His loan switch saw Close start just five of 12 league matches before Covid-19 shut down the season.

Even so, no berth in Pompey’s play-off squads remained fairly startling.

Even the high-rollers at Grosvenor Casino in Gunwharf wouldn't have backed ex-Middlesbrough man Morris to start in the biggest games of the season following a long-term abdomen injury ahead of both Naylor and Close.

It would therefore be no surprise if Close felt aggrieved by his recent treatment.

After all, Jackett's reason for dropping Naylor for Morris was because he wanted deep-lying technical midfielders whose remit was ball retention.

There's arguably no-one better at such a job in Pompey's squad than Close.

It's a frustrating scenario for the homegrown talent, who once again finds himself out of the fray.

And with Pompey pursuing a deal for McGeehan to return next term and Morris back in the spotlight, the midfielder again has to clamber his way back into Jackett's selection plans.

However, he’s displayed the resolve required to win back a starting spot on several occasions before.

When Jackett first took charge in 2017, it was fellow academy graduate Adam May who was ahead in the pecking order.

Impressive substitute outings at Wigan and then Northampton soon saw those roles reversed, though.

Ben Thompson's dazzling displays last season then made it virtually impossible for Close to dislodge the Millwall loanee.

But by the end of the campaign, Close’s rapid headway and goalscoring touch had softened the blow of Thompson's January recall.

Even for the curtain-raiser defeat at Shrewsbury last August, it was Ross McCrorie who started.

He’d been earmarked for a pivotal midfield role after arriving from Rangers, with Close an unused substitute against the Shrews.

McCrorie would start in that role just five more times, though, and was converted to a right-back, with Close’s attributes instead favoured.

Now he faces his latest battle – but he’s shown on multiple occasions he shouldn’t be written off.