The ex-Portsmouth triallist, Chelsea and Sunderland midfielder who Duncan Turnbull will link up with at Dulwich Hamlet

The American goalkeeper is poised to complete a loan switch to Dulwich Hamlet to enhance his development.

Turnbull’s had to remain patient since signing for Pompey in March following a successful trial period.

He’s behind Craig MacGillivray and Alex Bass in the pecking order, while he hasn’t been including in Kenny Jackett’s 22-man squad for the League One season.

But the University of Notre Dame graduate is hoping to launch his career in England at Dulwich.

Hamlet sit second bottom in the National League South table and Turnbull could make his debut tomorrow against Maidstone if his switch is finalised in time.

The stopper will have to swiftly get used to his new surroundings and new team-mates – but at least there is one Pompey link of some sort at the London outfit.

Ruben Sammut could play a role in helping Turnbull settle in at Champion Hill by recalling the period he spent with the Blues a couple of years ago.

After skippering Chelsea under-21s to a 2-1 victory over Pompey in the Checkatrade Trophy in January 2018, Sammut subsequently trained with Jackett’s side on several occasions.

The Pompey boss admitted he was impressed with the midfielder during his trial – but ultimately didn’t take his interest any further during that summer’s transfer window.

Instead, Jackett brought in Tom Naylor and Ben Thompson.

Sammut moved to Falkirk on loan for the first half of the 2018-19 campaign before he was released by Chelsea at the end of his contract.

He would land himself a League One outfit in July 2019, though, when he penned a one-year deal at Sunderland.

Yet it proved a frustrating season for the Maidstone-born man. He failed to make a single appearance for the Black Cats and was confined to under-23s football for the majority of his time on Wearside before being let go.

In a bid to revive his senior career, Sammut took the decision to drop to non-league football in the summer and joined Dulwich.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: ‘Footballers have an ego thing going on. I had to drop my ego this summer and be realistic. I know players released by Chelsea who had not gone anywhere and were just training at home. I wanted to be proactive.

‘I knew by going on LinkedIn and messaging managers, assistant managers, technical directors, and, yes, making myself vulnerable, it could put me in a shop window.

‘I effectively had a season out of first-team football at Sunderland. I played for the under-23s but my eyes have been opened during the last couple of years.’