Young Pompey keeper ready to go out on loan

That’s after Fulton immediately assumed the role of Blues No1, following his switch from Liverpool.

Paul Jones’ return to fitness and Brian Murphy’s desire to reclaim the starting spot he previously occupied means Bass is no longer required to sit on the first-team bench on match days.

And youth-team coach Mikey Harris has admitted it would be in the best interests of Bass’ development to follow the example of his fellow second-year scholars and get some senior football under his belt elsewhere.

‘It’s something we are looking at,’ said Harris.

‘We have high hopes for Bassy, who is a talented young goalkeeper.

‘You don’t make as many first-team squads as he has unless you are doing well.

‘He has been progressing well in training and some game time will do him good.

‘If that is with the youth team then that is what it will have to be.

‘But I think the long-term plan for Bassy is to get him some games at senior level.

‘That’s something myself, Mark Kelly (Academy boss), goalkeeping coach Scott Bevan and the first-team staff have discussed in our regular meetings.

‘Something may happen with Bassy but there is nothing imminent, although it is something we will continue to look at.’

With injured defender Dory Yates, the only other member of the Blues’ seven second-year scholars searching for a professional contract not to have undertaken a senior loan elsewhere, the onus is on Bass to find some game time.

But the idea of the 17-year-old being sent to engage in meaningless matches does not appeal to Harris.

He said: ‘Every club the lads are out on loan at is competing for something.

‘Calvin Davies is at Bognor, who are trying to get promoted and Liam Sayers is at Dorchester, who are in the play-offs.

‘Brandon Joseph-Buadi, Kaleem Haitham and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain are all at Wimborne Town who are fighting for their lives – that is a good experience as well.

‘The nice thing is we don’t have players out at teams who are in mid-table obscurity, can’t go up, can’t go down.

‘That can only be good for their development. It’s all good.’

While the youngsters may be plying their trade away from the club on weekends, that does not mean Harris is unable to keep up with what is going on.

And it did not take long for the Academy coach to see Joseph-Buadi get off the mark on his Wimborne debut.

Harris added: ‘The good thing with Wimborne is their games are filmed.

‘I have watched the game back and obviously seen Brandon’s goal.

‘It was a very good goal – a typical goal you come to expect from him.

‘He has shown great pace to outrun their defence and slot home.

‘The boys have all been doing very well so far and will be looking to build on that going forwards.’