Whatmough set for Covid test after becoming ill

JACK WHATMOUGH will be tested for coronavirus today after falling ill ahead of last night’s Hull City clash.

Pompey moved to the top of League One with an excellent 2-0 win at the KCOM Stadium.

Kenny Jackett’s side did so without defensive lynchpin Whatmough, who was left out of the team after feeling unwell ahead of the match.

The Gosport lad was sent home from the team hotel ahead of the game on his own, with Rasmus Nicolaisen coming into the middle of defence.

Jackett explained Whatmough was not showing any Covid-19 symptoms but Pompey erred on the side of caution over the development.

And the 24-year-old will now be tested for the disease to give certainty over whether he can rejoin the first-team set-up.

Speaking last night,

Jackett said: ‘Jack was ill this morning and he felt better as the day went on, but we felt it wasn’t worth the risk.

‘He didn’t feel up to it so it was an opportunity for Nicolaisen and I thought he did very well.

‘The physio didn’t think he had any Covid symptoms but we sent him home anyway on his own so we can cover all bases.

‘Hopefully tomorrow or the next day he feels better.

‘He’ll get a Covid test anyway tomorrow but as it stands there were no symptoms and he was just a bit under the weather.’

Pompey were at the centre of the coronavirus narrative in March when Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tested positive after his side faced Jackett’s men in the FA Cup.

James Bolton, Haji

Mnoga, Andy Cannon, Harry Kavanagh and Sean Raggett have all since tested positive for Covid-19, along with former loanee Ross McCrorie, but there haven’t been any positive tests at Fratton Park so far this season.