The two positions Portsmouth need to focus their January recruitment

And amid reflections on an unprecedented year in football, with Pompey facing challenges from the coronavirus crisis and the implementation of a League One salary cap, the chief executive touched upon the upcoming January transfer window.

Catlin provided an insight into the Blues' recruitment plans and how they will look to bolster their League One promotion push.

Wholesale changes have been ruled out – in fact, the number of new arrivals may be limited.

Yet the appraoch Pompey will take has been underlined.

‘There are some positions where, if we got an injury, we haven't got that particular position covered, so I think that's where we are going to be looking,’ said Catlin.

The News understands priority No1 is finding cover for Andy Cannon, who’s become an indispensable player in Kenny Jackett’s side.

Switching to a 4-4-2 formation has undoubtedly brought the best out of the former Rochdale man.

The 4-2-3-1 system Jackett staunchly stuck with last season didn’t play to Cannon’s strengths.

He didn’t contribute with enough goals and assists in the No10 role, while he was unable to maraud forward when deployed in a deep-lying position.

However, in a two-man engine room, Cannon’s no longer burdened with the pressure to provide in the final third or act as an anchor in the engine room.

Now, as a box-to-box midfielder, he can utilise his best strength of carrying the ball forward more frequently. That’s an attribute no-one else in the squad is able to provide.

But there’s another player who has been just as important in the current system, if not more – with Pompey having no direct replacement for him either.

Tom Naylor is undoubtedly in the form of his PO4 career and has been the lynchpin of the Blues’ latest promotion push.

The captain’s always been highly respected by his team-mates but, having taken his game to another level this term, is earning even more plaudits from fans.

Naylor’s ability to snap and snarl in the middle of the park has been his chief remit since arriving from Burton in June 2018.

However, this season he’s developed a penchant for long-range goals, having bagged six times in 24 matches to date.

Naylor’s previous flaw was his distribution. Sometimes he was profligate, needlessly giving away possession too easily when under no real pressure.

But that’s seemingly been eradicated from his game, with his passing making a marked improvement.

During his two-and-a-half years on the south coast, Pompey have never had direct like-for-like cover for such a key cog in their machinery.

Anton Walkes was the closest, although he was regarded as more of a full-back.

Ross McCrorie, meanwhile, was converted to a right-back after indifferent performances in midfield.

When Naylor’s not featured in central midfield – either when unavailable or asked to provide cover in defence – the Blues have been passive and looked brittle.

In truth, Pompey have been lucky Naylor’s never had a sustained spell on the treatment table.

Kenny Jackett currently has Bryn Morris and Ben Close currently serving as back-up to Cannon and Naylor.

The change in systems has been to Close’s detriment.

The Southsea lad’s more of a holding midfielder who recycles possession.

He rarely thrusts forward or is seen snapping at opposition players in an attempt t break up play..

As for Morris, he’s jettisoned down the pecking order after his shock comeback in last term’s play-off double-header against Oxford.

The former Shrewsbury ace has not featured in the past five league games and not even made the bench for three of those matches.

In every other position in Jackett’s squad, there is ample competition, with players on the sidelines who can slot in seamlessly.

However, in the current set-up, there is no natural replacement for Cannon or Naylor.

Suitable cover is definitely required.