The 2020 winners and losers in Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth squad identified

Even for a club who tumbled from FA Cup winners to League Two strugglers in just six years, 2020 has served up surprise after surprise.

The first curveball thrown our way arrived on New Year’s Day at Priestfield when goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray was dropped out of the blue for Alex Bass.

From that moment, we should have known the subsequent 12 months would be unprecedented.

We saw the Blues book yet another Wembley return, the coronavirus pandemic grind football to a halt, the League One table curtailed and decided by a points-per-game formula and then another meek play-off semi-final defeat.

Then there was implementation of a salary cap, Tom Naylor being omitted for the biggest games of the season, large sections of fans calling for Kenny Jackett’s head and modern-day heroes Christian Burgess and Gareth Evans leaving the proud club they helped rebuild.

It truly has been a year we will never forget.

Amid a challenging 12 months for everyone, there’s optimism to be had heading into 2021.

Pompey are well poised in the third tier, with the genuine belief this can finally earn promotion to the promised land of the Championship.

But who in Kenny Jackett’s squad will reflect on the year positively and whose New Year’s resolution will be to enjoy a better 2021?

A good year for...

Jack Whatmough started 2020 on the cusp of returning from a third long-term knee injury.

There was scepticism among fans whether he’d be the same player, with some even suggesting his career was over aged 23.

But the Gosport lad has simply surpassed all expectations and is in the form of his life.

Whatmough’s managing his body more wisely and is one of the first names on the team sheet.

It’s some turnaround considering Pompey thought about loaning him out during pre-season.

Add in the fact he’s had his first child and now has another on the way – things couldn’t have gone much better.

Meanwhile, it was just more than 12 months ago when Andy Cannon admitted he'd been pondering his future after two-and-a-half months without a league appearance for the Blues.

Impressive performances against Ipswich and Wycombe thrust him back into the spotlight.

And now he ends 2020 as the fulcrum to Pompey’s promotion push.

Cannon’s been fundamental since the Blues switched to a two-man midfield alongside Tom Naylor and stepped up to the mantle after Jackett missed out on Ben Thompson in the summer.

The formation switch has also benefited John Marquis, too.

The striker endured a difficult start to his Pompey career following a big-money move from Doncaster in July 2019.

However, over the past 12 months, he's started to justify his sizeable price tag.

Marquis has bagged 20 goals in 45 appearances, including the dramatic stoppage-time winner against Exeter to book the Blues' return to Wembley in the EFL Trophy.

The ex-Millwall man hasn’t bagged in his past six games but his goalscoring has come in fits and bursts throughout his career.

Finally, Haji Mnoga's enjoyed a fine breakthrough year and has firmly established himself in Jackett's set-up.

The Pompey boss decided against sending the 18-year-old out on loan to garner regular senior experience and he was rewarded with his full Football League debut against Crewe in November.

Mnoga will now be eyeing more games and will continue to push Callum Johnson for a starting spot at right-back.

A difficult year for...

With his contract up in the summer, surely Ben Close will be pondering where his future lies as we head into 2021.

The Southsea lad began last season with a couple of outstanding long-range efforts and was a regular starter.

He appeared to be hurtling towards the Championship.

But this year, Close has found minutes harder to come by.

The midfielder was omitted from both squads for the play-off semi-final againsr Oxford, while he's started only twice in the league this term.

With Pompey hoping to recruit an additional midfielder in January, it could push Close further down the pecking order.

Also desperately waiting on his opportunity is Paul Downing.

He’s not played a league game all year and is fourth-choice centre-back at present.

Although he has 18 months left on his contract, surely the experienced centre-back will want to reignite his career elsewhere if he has the chance.

Finally, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild arrived at the beginning of the year ready for his second chance in the Football League.

However, the forward is ending 2020 in the same situation as 12 months prior – in the non-league game.

Hackett-Fairchild has feature for Pompey only once and was frustrated by his lack of opportunities before rejoining Bromley on loan in September.

In fairness, he's impressing again for the Ravens and will be hoping to force himself into Jackett's plans when he returns to Fratton Park.