Rangers loanee Ross McCrorie earmarked for right-back challenge upon Portsmouth return

The Scotland under-21 international is scheduled back at Fratton Park this week following rehabilitation at parent club Rangers.

His recuperation from the hamstring injury sustained against Ipswich involved attending the Glasgow giants’ mid-season trip to Dubai.

It represented the second hamstring issue in six weeks for McCrorie, who has suffered an erratic time with the Blues so far.

Nonetheless, there have been glimpses of his quality, particularly in the right-back role on occasions.

And Jackett admits he has earmarked the 21-year-old to challenge James Bolton for the position when fully fit.

Pompey’s boss said: ‘Yes, I do think he will play at right-back.

‘We will see how his rehab goes, but the information we are getting from Rangers is it has gone very well, the testing shows both hamstrings are equally as strong now.

‘He’s a fit and strong lad, it’s quite unusual, so I think it will be very unlikely if it goes again, we will see.

‘In terms of them taking him out to Dubai to do his rehab, it’s their prerogative, and with a muscle injury we do feel it was the right thing.

‘He will challenge (for right-back), definitely, if he gets back and is around it.

‘We will keep in touch with Rangers. They are happy where he is in terms of the strength of that hamstring.’

McCrorie has so far made 15 appearances during his season-long loan from Rangers.

Despite starting the League One curtain-raiser at Shrewsbury in the centre of midfield, a match in which he received his marching orders, it is at right-back where he generally has been preferred.

Jackett finally handed a first-team run in league action during October, although a spell of four straight starts ended upon the initial hamstring injury.

Having returned a month later, following three midfield outings, he was restored to right-back against Ipswich.

Yet once more injury intervened, sidelining him for the last six matches, prompting his return to his parent club for treatment.

Pompey have also been looking at Barnsley’s out-of-favour right-back Dimitri Cavare.