RECOVERING BROWN COULD BE BACK FOR FIRST GAME OF 2021
Full-back making good progress following hamstring blow
POMPEY’S unexpected festive sidelining has offered a surprise selection boost in the case of Lee Brown.
And the left-back could even be back available for Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley.
The Blues’ vice-captain was anticipated to miss four matches following the aggravation of his hamstring problem.
However, that absence has been slashed in half after the postponement of matches against Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers through coronavirus.
Cameron Pring admirably deputised against Fleetwood Town and Hull City, a spell yielding four points and two clean sheets.
But Kenny Jackett is now pencilling in Brown for consideration for Pompey’s opening match of 2021.
Pompey’s boss told The News: ‘Lee is coming back well, I am pleased with his progress.
‘With coronavirus (in the camp), he will have to stay away, but I have spoken to him about working from home and he can do that.
‘He is working well and working hard. Lee’s an experienced pro and I wouldn’t rule out Accrington for him.
‘He will be there or thereabouts, that’s how it looks at the moment. He could be training this week.
‘It doesn’t look to be a longterm issue at the moment. He’s outside running, we will see how the week goes for him and how he feels.’
Brown is presently the sole Pompey player on the treatment table, although five squad members have been diagnosed with coronavirus since the December 18 trip to Hull.
Brown himself didn’t travel to the KCOM Stadium, being sidelined by the hamstring injury he sustained in the 2-0 victory away to Ipswich Town earlier this month.
Perhaps a fortuitous absence considering the number of team-mates to emerge from that game testing positive for Covid-19.
Hull have also suffered an outbreak since that match and their fixture against Lincoln tomorrow has been postponed.
They were already out of action on Boxing Day after opponents Sunderland had earlier called off through coronavirus in their camp.
Regardless, Brown is not one of the five affected at Fratton Park. Jack Whatmough is the only one who has been publicly named.
And while last week the Blues’ Hilsea-based training ground was shut and padlocked, the 30-year-old Brown instead worked on rehab at his Surrey home.
Jackett added: ‘At the moment, Lee is the only player injured.
‘From talking to him, he does know his body and had a similar hamstring problem earlier in the season, so has already been working away from the training ground.
‘He could possibly be back out there with the group this week when we all return.’