Why it's over for Portsmouth goalscoring hero Brett Pitman - but not yet the end

In truth, Brett Pitman’s Pompey career has ended. They’ll be no addition to the 41 goals he has plundered during three Fratton Park seasons.

Yet the Blues boss would not hesitate to break glass in case of emergency should the play-off campaign require urgent assistance.

Jackett and Pitman’s relationship is irretrievably damaged. Long fractured, there will be permanent separation upon the summer expiry of the 32-year-old’s contract.

Still, Pompey’s boss is a pragmatist. There remains promotion to secure, irrespective of personal feelings towards the man who once served as his trusted captain.

Jackett can be ruthless, but this is not quite the time to sever ties beyond repair.

Granted, Pitman finds himself once again exiled, condemned to solitary training in Dorset without the offer of match action to hone his fitness.

Nonetheless, during the forthcoming play-off programme, should the situation necessitate, the striker will be asked to return to the fold.

Interestingly, there are previous examples of Jackett offering reprieves in the interests of benefiting the team.

Towards the end of last season, loanee James Vaughan was allowed to return to Wigan to train with his parent club, frustrated at his lack of Fratton Park involvement.

Once injury ruled Omar Bogle out of the second leg of Pompey’s play-off semi-final with Sunderland, Jackett summoned the much-travelled striker back to the south coast.

Vaughan’s subsequent appearance off the bench during Fratton Park elimination represented one of the better displays in an otherwise lacklustre showing from the Blues.

Similarly, Pitman’s training ground omission at the turn of this year saw him instead train with Bournemouth under-21s for six weeks. It coincided with a club Football League record of nine successive wins.

With injury to Ellis Harrison and then Oli Hawkins, the striker was granted a return in February. Considerably more hirsute, he featured as an unused substitute in three of Pompey’s five most recent fixtures.

Pitman, of course, had returned from another exile the previous year to inspire a late-season surge, culminating in skippering the Blues to the Checkatrade Trophy.

Still, Jackett believes he possesses enough striking options at present to warrant the sidelining of the best finisher at the club.

Indeed, in the last 22 years, only Yakubu has registered more Pompey goals, with a tally of 43.

Despite such rich pedigree, there isn’t even room on a seven-man bench to accommodate Pitman in the forthcoming play-off campaign.

Luke McGee, Adam May and Matt Casey will officially depart at the end of the month, having been informed their contracts won’t be renewed.

Brett Pitman is also surplus to requirements at Pompey – but not just yet.

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