Whatmough happy with right-back position

JACK WHATMOUGH is happy to continue operating as a makeshift right-back to help Pompey’s faltering promotion cause.

But the defender admitted he’d not played in the position for around 12 years, after moving into the role at Doncaster.

Whatmough returned to the starting XI at the Keepmoat Stadium after seven games without a start, with a three-game ban arriving after his controversial red card against Lincoln.

The 24-year-old was shifted from a three-man defence to right-back amid Pompey’s early struggles on Tuesday night.

With both James Bolton and Callum Johnson sidelined and teenager

Haji Mnoga continuing his senior education, Whatmough could be in line to continue in the position at Northampton this weekend.

It’s something the Gosport lad is content doing for the benefit of his team.

Whatmough said: ‘I quite enjoyed playing right-back. I was probably about 12 the last time I played there when I first signed for Pompey!

‘I haven’t played for about six weeks and I’ve looked after myself.

‘It’s something I’ve spoke to the gaffer and Joe about - and it’s somewhere I’m happy to play.

Plenty of fans have aired their frustration over Whatmough’s wait to get back into the first team, but it’s not a position the academy graduate took himself.

He said: ‘It’s part and parcel of my career. It’s what happens. It’s all learning. Raggs and Nico were playing well together, and it kept me out.

‘It’s what I’d expect, so there’s been no sulking.