Portsmouth youngsters stuck in football limbo sent a clear message by Kenny Jackett

Alfie Stanley, Harry Kavanagh and Eoin Teggart have been told to use this period to build their physiques as they await news when they might be back playing non-league football.

The third-year scholars have been out on loan this season garnering season experience to enhance their first-team chances in the future.

Kavanagh and Teggart were at Gosport Borough, while Alfie Stanley had a spell at Bognor.

However, the second national lockdown meant non-elite sport was shelved, while neither the Southern League and Isthmian League have yet to restart since restrictions were lifted.

All three have featured in the Papa John’s Trophy, they’ve mainly been restricted to the training ground for the past five weeks.

Jackett admits it’s a tough period for the fledgling talents as they’d ideally be playing featuring week in, week out.

But the boss insisted they can’t rest on their laurels and have to improve other aspects of their game.

He said: ‘They have suffered with the Covid situation.

‘They have been moving around from one bubble to another and there have been different rules and regulations for different levels.

‘Around step three of the non-league pyramid, there haven't always been games and it's just stopped.

‘That has affected the game-time of some of our younger players.

‘However, they need to use that period to get as fit as they can, as strong as they can and keep developing.

‘They are at an age-group where they are able to develop physically. While you'd always be wanting to be playing football, they can use this positively for other things.

‘That's my message to all of them in terms of using this period constructively.’