Why Barnsley loanee has been ahead of Ben Close in Portsmouth midfield pecking order

The Southsea lad has slipped down the pecking order since Cameron McGeehan joined on loan from Barnsley last month.

Close was an unused substitute in the Blues’ 1-0 loss at Fleetwood on Saturday.

That was the fourth time he was left on the bench since McGeehan’s arrival, having been first choice in the engine room alongside Tom Naylor during the first half of the season.

However, it's a position Close has found himself in on numerous occasions since graduating through the academy.

Jackett pinpointed the 23-year-old found the likes of Michael Doyle, Danny Rose and Amine Linganzi ahead of him when first breaking through the ranks.

Then he's been out of favour to Adam May and Ben Thompson during times under Jackett’s reign.

And the boss insists Close is capable of winning back a regular starting spot.

Jackett said: ‘It is quite close but the reason for bringing Cameron in was because I thought we needed to thicken up in midfield for the second half of the season.

‘Playing the three of Naylor, McGeehan and Close, I think there is a bit of an overlap, while playing Andy Cannon, Gareth Evans or John Marquis there gives us something different.

‘I’ve been pleased with Cameron and it's close between him, Tom Naylor and Ben Close.

‘Ben will be ready and is on 35 starts and 40 appearances for this season, which isn’t bad and I think he’ll top 50 games, which is pretty good.

‘I know Ben very well and he has a terrific character. When you’re at Portsmouth, you have to fight off lots of midfield players when they come in – and, to be fair, he has.

‘You have to accept it and fight back because that is professional football.

‘From the start, he was around with Doyle, Rose and Linganzi and, as ever, there will be other midfield players around at a club.

‘You have to keep coming out on top. Ben has and can again.’

Close scored nine goals in 46 games during last season's failed League One promotion bid.

He’s poised to surpass that appearance total this term, having played 40 matches and bagged six times so far.

Jackett added: ‘Last season, his games total was 46 and it’s high again. He's on 35 starts now and we’re in the back end of February.

‘There's the prospect of him playing more and that's good.’