Why Kenny Jackett has exiled prolific Portsmouth goalscorer Brett Pitman

And it would be a ‘miracle’ to see the the former captain kick a ball in Pompey’s play-off bid.

That’s the view of News chief sports writer, Neil Allen, in the latest Pompey Talk podcast, which you can listen to HERE.

The man who’s the top scorer of the past decade is still training on his own away from the club.

Allen explained he would have Pitman’s predatory instincts on the bench, but feels the mood of the Pompey squad is in Jackett’s thinking when it comes to keeping him in the cold.

He said: ‘Their relationship ended a while ago - they’ve had a big falling out, in fact they’ve probably had many. It’s beyond repair their relationship.

‘I would’ve have him on the bench, though, because he’s by far the best finisher at the club.

‘But perhaps Kenny is thinking about the dressing room, morale, spirit and he doesn’t see a presence for Brett Pitman in there at the moment.

‘The thing about Pitman is he’s got 41 goals for Pompey - only Yakubu’s got a better return in the last 21 or 22 years. It’s a phenomenal record - but the teams has moved on.

‘It’s where to play him, his age, physique and he’s no longer captain.

‘There’s clearly issues with him at the club and, as ever, they will come out in the future.

‘Let’s remember Pompey won a club record nine games in a row without Brett Pitman. We move on.’

Jackett has a track record of bringing Pitman back into the picture when his days in the first team look numbered.

That was the case last season for over a month, before he hit the goal trail on his return with six goals in eight games.

Allen believes there’s extremely long odds of a repeat now, however.

He added: ‘Jackett exiled him last season before bringing him back and he had an impact.

‘He inspired Pompey to seven wins from nine and they won the Checkatrade Trophy with him as skipper.

‘So Kenny never rules anyone out and will continue to use them if he can. That’s why if there was injuries Brett might’ve come back.

‘But the fact is he won’t be staying, his role in the club has disintegrated considerably this season and the club has moved on.

‘At the moment he’s not even training with Pompey, let alone playing friendlies.

‘It would be a great fairytale if he came back and got the winner, but it’d be a miracle.’

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