Johnson could still have future at Pompey

DANNY COWLEY insists he is not ready to close the door on Callum Johnson’s Fratton Park career.

The out-of-favour right-back is presently on loan at Fleetwood, with his Pompey contract expiring at the season’s end.

WithCowleykeentoremove fringe members of his squad in January to fund the arrival of

fresh faces it puts the spotlight on the 25-year-old.

As it stands, Fleetwood are under a transfer embargo so cannot buy Johnson, while he has already featured for two clubs this season so is unable to feature elsewhere.

Regardless, Cowley hasn’t ruled out the ex-Middlesbrough man still having a Pompey future.

He told The News: ‘I don’t anticipate Callum leaving in January, he’s on a season-long

loan. Callum is a young player who is developing. He really wanted to play and had a feeling that maybe he wouldn't play as much as he wanted to here..

‘Whenyouhaveaplayerwith that feeling then obviously you look at the opportunities to be able to provide him with that.

‘I think it has been a good loan for everybody. For Callum, for Fleetwood and certainly for us.

‘We didn’t anticipate Mahlon Romeo becoming available to us and that was really right at the deadline. When it did we had to balance the squad accordingly.

‘We have good dialogue every week with Fleetwood regarding Callum’s progress and it’s been

greattoseehimscoreacouple of goals. He’s doing well and playing sometimes at right wingback, sometimes at right-back, sometimes on the right of a back three, which is good.’

Romeo has been Pompey’s undisputed first-choice right-back in the absence of Johnson.

The 26-year-old has shone since his Millwall arrival, much to Cowley’s delight.

Pompey’s head coach added: ‘We had Mahlon on a season-long loan, we have been delighted with him, he has shown what we all know he is capable of.

‘He’s a Championship rightback and plays right wing-back, he’s like two players for us.

‘We have loved his power and athleticism, and also the quality he has brought to the group.’