Blues boss not ruling out fringe player exits

POMPEY are braced for interest in their fringe players during the final week of the transfer window.

The Blues could allow Paul Downing or James Bolton to depart before next Friday’s (October 16) 5pm deadline.

Following the arrival of Rasmus Nicolaisen, Downing's been demoted to fourth-choice centre-back.

The ex-Doncaster defender has not made a League One appearance for more than a year and is firmly out of favour at Fratton Park.

Bolton, meanwhile, has been left out of the past three match-day squads in the league. Callum Johnson has made the right-back spot his own since joining from Accrington for £200,000, while Haji Mnoga was 19th man at Burton last weekend.

Both Downing and Bolton played in Tuesday night's

3-0 win over Southend in the EFL Trophy. However, they’re expected to be omitted from Kenny Jackett's squad for MK Dons' visit to PO4 on Saturday.

Jackett admitted there have been no enquiries about the defensive duo so far.

But the Pompey boss is aware the window will get busy in the last few days ahead of the deadline - and will assess offers should they come in. Jackett said: ‘There have been no enquiries and it is quiet at the moment.

‘But I can't tell what is going to happen in the next week. I can't tell whether any team will come in for anyone on the fringes or not getting a game at the moment. There is nothing imminent in terms of outgoings but the last week does tend to get busy.

‘Similarly, we will take each one as it comes if the offers come. It is a little bit of everything when deciding to let players out. If and when the phone rings then we'll consider the club’s position and the player’s position and marry the two.’

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