Portsmouth seeking to recapture Steve Seddon 'spark' after Birmingham loanee's surprise omission

The impressive loanee was omitted from the Blues’ starting XI on Tuesday as Kenny Jackett freshened up his side.

Implementing five changes, they ran out 3-1 winners to bounce back from weekend defeat at Fleetwood.

Lee Brown was drafted in to operate at left-back, marking his first appearance in 19 matches, a period during which he underwent an Achilles operation.

Seddon was instead restricted to a substitute turn in the 90th minute, replacing Ronan Curtis on the left.

The Birmingham defender has now featured 13 times in seven weeks since his Fratton Park arrival, a gruelling schedule which persuaded Jackett to rest him on Tuesday evening.

Pompey’s boss said: ‘I felt Steve just needed a little bit of a breather.

‘He has done very well for us, but, in recent games and on Saturday, I did feel he was a little tired. Lee didn’t let us down and is a good player as well.

‘But Steve will be back – and when he does come back we want him to be on top form.

‘He has played a lot of games in a short space of time and I think that has sort of shown from Coventry onwards.

‘You think how high he was against Sunderland, Lincoln, those sort of games.

‘After that he didn’t let us down, he wasn't bad, he was solid, but didn't quite have that freshness and spark we know he has.’

Brown had last appeared for the Blues in December’s 2-2 draw with Peterborough.

Coincidentally, that match also marked his maiden Pompey goal in 69 appearances since a summer of 2018 arrival.

Seddon emerged as an automatic left-back choice during the injury absences of Brown and Brandon Haunstrup, who are both now fit.

Jackett added: ‘After the operation, Lee has been champing at the bit and is a big personality and a similar player to Steve Seddon, in terms of what we want from our left-back.

‘He played well for his first game, talked well, organised, and I was pleased with him.’