The Portsmouth skipper who lifted his team-mates off ground despite being dropped for the play-offs

But Tom Naylor was still there to lift the Blues off the ground following penalty shootout heartbreak at Oxford in the semi-finals.

And Ellis Harrison insists the skipper is over the disappointment of being dropped against the U’s and fully focused on another promotion charge.

Despite featuring in every league match when available before the curtailment of the season amid the Covid-19 crisis, Naylor was surprisingly benched for the meetings with Oxford.

Instead, Bryn Morris – who hadn't played for 14 months because of an abdomen injury – came into engine room to partner Cameron McGeehan.

Naylor had to settle for a place among the substitutes and was not required at all as Kenny Jackett’s men lost 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

Rather than wallowing in self pity, though, Naylor recognised that as captain he still had a duty of rallying the troops.

And Harrison is confident the tough-tackling ex-Burton man will be at the forefront of Pompey’s renewed charge at the Championship.

The striker said: ‘Tom is probably the best pro I've ever met in terms of experience and how he goes about things.

‘He's not going to sit back and dwell on that. He spoke to us all after Oxford, he knew everyone was devastated and then put a message in the group chat saying we go again next season.

‘The boys needed that and that's why he is our captain. He's our leader.

‘When you're maybe a bit lethargic, you see how he is and you think "I'm not letting him down today".

‘He obviously was disappointed not playing at Oxford after playing every game in the season, but he understands it's not about him and things are bigger than him which is getting promotion.

‘That's bigger than any us and Tom is big enough and ugly enough to know that. He wants to play every game but he's not going to argue with the manager's choice.’

Since arriving from Burton in 2018, Naylor has scored five goals in 98 appearances.

He's screened Pompey’s defence superbly and always offered a reliable presence.

Naylor’s leadership qualities were rewarded when he was appointed captain a year ago, after Brett Pitman was stripped of his duties.

And Harrison believes the former Derby ace doesn’t perhaps get the credit he deserves.

The Welshman added: ‘There's no-one more reliable than Tom in the team and you know he's Mr Reliable.

‘He's going to break things up and do what he's good at. That's why he's been playing for 10 or 11 years.

‘He's not going to do what Ronan Curtis or Marcus Harness might do, but if you watch him for 90 minutes then you realise just how good he actually is.’