Setback for Portsmouth record-holder in his return from long-term injury

The left-back, 19, has been sidelined for more than a year after suffering ACL damage during Pompey training.

After having his third-year scholarship extended, Hancott returned for pre-season and was due to join Bognor on loan in September.

However, a build-up of scar tissue during the final stages of his rehabilitation meant that he was forced to go under the knife once again.

Now the Isle of Wight defender, who became the youngest player in Pompey’s post-war history aged 16 years and 161 days in August 2017, is nearing a return to full fitness.

The Blues’ head physio, Bobby Bacic, said: ‘Joe had a major operation in November last year.

‘He went back in for a small procedure with the same surgeon because there was a little bit of scar tissue. That happens with an ACL reconstruction because it was causing him discomfort at the end stage of his rehab.

‘It's put him back a few weeks but was something worth doing. Since the procedure, he's improved and is pretty much getting back to where he was beforehand, which is the end stage of rehab.

‘But he's not ready yet to be involved in games. He'll need to build up doing 30 minutes, 45 minutes and then 60 minutes before being available.

‘It was when he did the 60 minutes when he felt something wasn't quite right.

‘The easy thing would have been to say "go on" but we investigated it a bit more and sent him back to the surgeon. We want him to feel as close to 100 per cent as possible.

‘It's definitely not a major setback but it's something to help him. We're hoping to see him back pretty soon but won't put a timeline on it.’

In total, Hancott has made three appearances for Pompey.

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