The position Kenny Jackett's never properly addressed that could bolster Portsmouth's promotion bid

It's a mantra plenty of Pompey fans have preached during previous transfer windows.
Pompey boss Kenny Jackett. Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesPompey boss Kenny Jackett. Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Pompey boss Kenny Jackett. Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

And as Mark Catlin revealed there could be a flurry of activity before the salary cap vote this week, those supporters will continue to bang the drum for the Blues to sign a specialist number 10.

For the three seasons which Kenny Jackett has been in the Fratton Park hot seat, there's been no real creative, attacking midfielder recruited.

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Kal Naismith took up that role immensely during the business end of the 2016-17 title-winning season, with his stand-out performances leading Pompey to League Two glory.

Since then, though, no-one has risen to such heights, nor come close to it – all to the Blues’ detriment.

Even Naismith himself couldn't come near to replicating that form the following season.

Sure, there have been plenty of pretenders who've looked likely to fulfil the role – some better than others.

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But from Naismith to Louis Dennis, Conor Chaplin to Connor Ronan, the position – and a vital one at that – has never looked as settled as it should in Jackett’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

The role is usually associated with someone at the fulcrum of most forays forward.

Someone with the guile to play a defence-splitting through ball or the sheer class to bend home a 25-yarder.

Gareth Evans took up the mantle well during the first half of 2018-19 in a consistent front four along with Jamal Lowe, Ronan Curtis and Oli Hawkins.

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He provided a goal threat, bagged 13 in total, as well as offering tenacity when the Blues were out of possession.

However, the fans' favourite dropped down the pecking order last term, featuring just twice in the final 12 games before the lockdown period.

Jackett experimented with John Marquis for a period, although that irked sections of the Fratton faithful.

The striker had forged a reputation as one of the deadliest strikers in League One at Doncaster Rovers, yet they argued his goalscoring prowess was being wasted as he continued to be played out of position.

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While those tactics yielded league wins over Rotherham, Rochdale and Southend, the general feeling was Marquis needed someone to provide him with the ammunition rather than him being the provider-in-chief for Ellis Harrison.

Of all of the players to feature in the No10 role last season, Andy Cannon gave Pompey by far the most poise.

However, there's a case to be made that the former Rochdale man would be more effective in a deeper role as he ended the campaign with one goal and four assists from 28 appearances.

Marcus Harness netted in the play-off semi-final at Oxford in the No10 position and that could be something Jackett experiments with further.

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The ex-Burton man's primarily displayed his talent on the flank, though, and that's likely to be his role for the meantime.

Yet the former Luton midfielder never quite lived up to expectations, after he was named in the League One Team of the Season the year prior.

Steady rather than spectacular would be the verdict on his time at PO4, although more would likely come should he re-sign.

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But with a potential squad limit of 22 potentially coming in, maximising every place will be paramount.

Pompey already have Cannon, Tom Naylor, Ben Close and Bryn Morris who can all feature in a holding midfield position.

That’s an ample amount required as it'd be two players competing for both engine-room berths.

Then that would leave a space for an influential forward-thinker operating as the conduit between midfield and the lone striker.

The attribute you'd want is someone capable of unlocking the opposition in razor-tight games.

Ultimately, that could prove the difference between promotion or yet another year in League One.

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