FACEBOOK: PORTSMOUTH FC – THE NEWS

KENNY Jackett admitted no player on the Fratton fringes has asked for a January departure.

But the boss accepts there has to be a balancing act between keeping those against their will and looking after the club.

The likes of Paul Downing and Andy Cannon have been firmly on the periphery of things recently.

Despite signing a three-year deal when joining on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers in the summer, Downing hasn’t appeared in a League One fixture for more than three months.

Downing’s 540 minutes all came before his last league outing against Burton Albion on Tuesday, September 17.

Cannon, meanwhile, has played the fewest minutes of Jackett’s outfielders and hasn’t featured in the third tier for two months.

Both men were unused substitutes in Saturday’s miserable 4-1 loss away to Accrington Stanley, when Blues were missing several players.

With Pompey keen to strengthen and bolster their promotion push when the transfer window opens next month, that’ll mean there will also be some outgoings.

But Jackett says no-one is pushing for a move elsewhere.

Asked if anyone has knocked on his door, the manager said: ‘We haven’t had anything necessarily concrete, no.

‘At the moment, all we have talked about is working hard, getting your head down and being ready when you get a chance and opportunity.

‘I suppose, quite naturally, when people aren’t playing on a regular basis when a window comes around they’re maybe looking (for a move).

‘We aren’t looking to sell players – other clubs buy them. If nobody comes for a player, then you keep your head down and keep working here.

‘You don’t want to keep people who don’t see their future here, whether it’s because of football or living in the area. But then you have to have a balance between that and looking after the club.

‘It’s not cast in stone but we’re not going to up the numbers and let no-one go out.

‘Whether they completely tally, that will be our aim but it doesn’t always work like that.’

Although he started against Accrington, James Bolton has totalled just 578 minutes of league football since his free transfer from Shrewsbury Town, despite being recognised as first choice rightback upon his arrival.

– WILL ROONEY