Where will Portsmouth aim to recruit, who's been linked and who could depart - an early look at the January transfer window

Kenny Jackett has admitted the Blues are unlikely to make wholesale changes – but he is hoping to strengthen.

The window represents a chance for the boss to add players to his squad who could make a key difference to Pompey’s promotion push.

And while the Blues still have six games before transfers are again permitted, we take an early look at how things could pan out at Fratton Park.

Where will recruitment be focused on?

All Pompey's positions are as well-stocked as they could be amid the salary cap rules.

Tom Naylor and Andy Cannon have formed an excellent engine-room partnership and both are thriving since the switch to 4-4-2.

But Pompey have no like-for-like replacement for either and central-midfield could be a position that's bolstered.

Given they missed out on Ben Thompson late in the summer window, a box-to-box player who can be rotated with the high-octane Cannon is an option.

It’s understood Pompey are still keeping track on Thompson’s situation at Millwall.

Depending on Jordy Hiwula’s future, an additional striker may also need to be recruited.

Hiwula’s deal expires on January 20 and, while Jackett is edging towards keeping him, the forward may have an offer elsewhere that guarantees more minutes.

He’s featured in the league for only 10 minutes so far.

Who’s been linked already?

The rumour mill has yet to really start churning out any names.

Before the FA Cup tie with King’s Lynn, their chairman said Ross Barrows was someone Pompey had their eye on.

However, Jackett poured cold water on it, insisting he had enough cover at right-back.

Ben House is someone Pompey have been reportedly watching.

The striker has scored six goals in nine games for Eastleigh, with Charlton and Ipswich also supposedly keen.

Who could depart?

The 22-man squad being full means that Pompey will need to move on some of their fringe players if fresh faces are to be recruited.

The obvious ones are Paul Downing and James Bolton, who the Blues were open to offers for in the summer.

The duo have remained on the fringes of things and have scarcely been included on the bench in the league.

Downing, 29, and Bolton, 26, are both at stages of their career where they'll surely want to be playing regular football and would also been keen to depart.

However, Pompey have yet to receive any early enquiries for either.

Meanwhile, if a midfielder was recruited, there'd be the option to allow Bryn Morris, whose game-time has also been limited of late, to potentially move elsewhere.

He hasn’t made a league start for two months and was left out of the squad at Blackpool, which suggests Ben Close is ahead in the pecking order.

Will the loanees stay?

It was two years ago when Pompey were hit by their loan players being recalled by their parent clubs.

Ben Thompson was the biggest blow, no doubt, as he was the lynchpin when the Blues sat at the summit of the table. Many fans believe promotion would have been achieved had the midfielder not gone back to Millwall.

But the departures of Andre Green and David Wheeler shouldn't go underestimated. They were integrated into the group, knew Jackett’s way of playing and were match fit.

Pompey could face a similar scenario after January 3 should Rasmus Nicolaisen's position not change.

By his own admission, the Dane will return to FC FC Midtjylland if he doesn't start playing more frequently.

Nicolaisen's been unable to shift Jack Whatmough and Sean Raggett in central defence, however.

Should that remain the same in Pompey's next six games, it'll only further increase the chances of Nicolaisen heading back to his parent club.

As a result, the Blues would then likely target a new central defender who’s preferably left-footed.

Bristol City also hold a recall option on Cam Pring. He’s been behind Lee Brown in the left-back pecking order but knew that’d likely be the case when he arrived in the summer.

Pring’s played 12 matches so far and is an option when the Blues need a more natural attacking option in the full-back role.