Portsmouth need to extend Tom Naylor's winter wonderland to avoid a summer of sadness

Kenny Jackett told us all via an interview on BBC Solent that the Blues captain’s game was better suited to the winter – or words that that effect – as he justified his decision to go with Bryn Morris for the play-off double-header against Oxford in July.

They’re words that have probably haunted the manager ever since – especially when his selection gamble failed to pay off.

But with the Pompey midfielder now sitting on four goals in his past five games, maybe the boss was right.

The nights are getting shorter by the day, the weather’s turning slowly but surely, and winter is more or less here.

And Naylor is undoubtedly the man of the moment. The fact that he’s taking the attention away from the irresistible Marcus Harness or the goal-machine that is now John Marquis says it all.

The former Burton man was again in the spotlight following his stunning strike against King’s Lynn in the FA Cup on Saturday – already his fifth goal of the season.

During the week, midfield partner Andy Cannon jokingly compared him to his footballing hero, former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

Naylor’s new-found ability to add goals to his game prompted the comparison.

But all jokes aside, Naylor’s goal collection already this season would sit easily alongside some of the goals the one-time England ace racked up during his incredible career.

His effort against King’s Lynn was another straight out of the Gerrard how-to guide for spectacular strikes.

We’re all familiar with the now Rangers boss’ importance to Liverpool during his 17-year Anfield reign.

And with Naylor in the form he’s in, he’s just as vital to this current Pompey side as they go in search of the promotion spot that has eluded them in recent seasons.

His knack of scoring goals from midfield all of a sudden is becoming crucial as the Blues look to move forward.

Naylor’s leadership qualities are an essential ingredient to a concerted promotion push.

His coolness keeps the Blues ticking over.

Meanwhile, the midfielder’s battling qualities ensure Pompey are no soft touches in the engine room.

With three months of winter still to come, we can therefore all anticipate a thriving Blues future with captain Tom at the wheel.

He can set us on the right course and have us all hopefully dreaming of the Championship as we emerge from spring and into next summer.

But as we dare dream of sunnier climes, therein lies an issue.

No, not another Jackett selection call to forgo Naylor for the fair-weather Morris as pitches get smoother and start to dry up.

Rather, a contract situation which at this moment in time remains unresolved.

The midfielder, who is keen to stay at PO4, is one of nine Pompey players whose deals expire at the end of the season.

Alongside Jack Whatmough and the emerging Cannon, he should be on the priority list when it comes to extending Fratton Park stop-offs.

But with the club hamstrung by current salary caps, the offering of fresh terms is far from easy.

Unless, by magic, a rabbit is pulled out of a hat, Naylor and Co will need to accept pay cuts if they want to remain on the south coast beyond the current campaign.

That’s a ludicrous suggestion. But it’s where Pompey and other League One and Two clubs are at following the summer decision to cap players’ wages at this level.

As a result, the Blues run the risk – and it’s a massive one – of losing some of their most influential players, and for nothing.

Of course, promotion to the Championship would solve such worries and enable Pompey to offer wages that are akin to the likes of Naylor’s ability and importance.

But until that’s signed, sealed and delivered, and there’s no guarantee it will, the Blues are heading down a very dangerous path.

At present, Naylor is basking in a winter wonderland at Fratton Park, with no evidence of discontent.

But come the summer, Pompey fans might have to get used to seeing his name absent from their team sheet once again.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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