Why Bristol City loanee was introduced over Jordy Hiwula at Blackpool - and if he'll feature in Portsmouth midfield again

The on-loan Bristol City man came off the bench in Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Blackpool.

Despite arriving as a left-sided defender, Pring replaced Ronan Curtis and took up a position in midfield.

That was received with some disagreement from sections of fans, who’d rather have seen Jordy Hiwula come on instead.

With John Marquis and Ellis Harrison also on the pitch, Jackett admitted he felt another frontman would have ‘stifled’ Pompey’s build-up play.

The boss felt Pring’s natural left-foot could improve his side’s crossing to yield an equaliser – although it proved in vain.

Jackett said: ‘I tried to stiffen our midfield up slighty. There can't always be more forwards on the pitch, sometimes if you have too many forwards on the pitch then the process can be stifled.

‘I did feel that a natural left-footer could help out balls into the box. It didn't particularly work that way, both were intercepted from the left-hand side.

‘But I felt we needed a natural left-footer. He attacks very well from left-back and is mainly a full-back.

‘But sometimes I do feel that in our set-up we can lack a natural left-footer there.

‘Cam does attack well from left-back. In the main that's the position we brought him in to play.

‘We’ll see (if he plays there again). If we do feel we need a left-footer out there then he can change the angles of the balls that are coming into the box.’

Pring’s battling Lee Brown for the left-back spot at Pompey.

Brown, who is vice-captain, has mainly served as first choice during the League One promotion push.

He’s expected to start tomorrow’s visit of promotion-rivals Peterborough United.

But Jackett feels there is good competition between the pair for a starting spot at Fratton Park.

He added: ‘We've dovetailed the two so far in terms of Lee and Cam. Both have different strengths.

‘Cam is very athletic and gets forward very well, Lee has a lot of experience and brings a lot to the team.’