Rasmus Nicolaisen granted debut as Portsmouth make 10 changes at Southend

Rasmus Nicolaisen makes his Pompey debut tonight at Southend. Picture: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for FC MidtjyllandRasmus Nicolaisen makes his Pompey debut tonight at Southend. Picture: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for FC Midtjylland
Rasmus Nicolaisen makes his Pompey debut tonight at Southend. Picture: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for FC Midtjylland
Rasmus Nicolaisen is handed his Pompey debut at Southend tonight.

The on-loan central defender is among 10 changes to the side which on Saturday beat Burton so impressive at the Pirelli Stadium.

The sole survivor from that 4-2 success is Ryan Williams, with Kenny Jackett rotating his squad to give them match minutes in the EFL Trophy fixture.

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Alex Bass makes his first appearance since the Carabao Cup defeat at Stevenage, while Ben Close is given his first start – and second appearance – of the campaign.

Ronan Curtis comes back into the side along with John Marquis, who had both been dropped at Burton.

It appears Pompey are to operate with a back three consisting of Paul Downing, Nicolaisen and James Bolton.

That would mean Haji Mnoga and Cam Pring featuring as wing-backs.

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Victory would see the Blues reach the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy which they still retain.

Pompey: Bass, Downing, Bolton, Nicolaisen, Mnoga, Pring, Close, Cannon, Williams, Curtis, Marquis.

Subs: MacGillivray, Johnson, Harrison, Morris, Harness, Raggett, Jacobs.

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