Richie Barker has heaped praise on hard-working Simon Ferry - and spoken of his hope that injections will cure the midfielder's back problem and allow him a longer run of games in the team.

Ferry has missed the past three games with the injury and Barker said he looked forward to welcoming him back into contention for a starting place.

Midfield has been a difficult area for Barker as he struggles to find the right comibnation, but he said it was a blow not to have Ferry available.

The boss told The News 'He’s a good person to have around the place. I can imagine him playing football forever — his attitude in training is fantastic and has an infectious enthusiasm which people feed off.

‘The disappointing thing is he has not had a run of games. The most games he has played in a row is two in recent months. He’s a real football person, an honest person.

‘When you are talking to him he looks you in the eyes and gives you an honest answer and I just love people who love training. In training he comes off having run himself into the ground on a daily basis.

‘I don’t like people who go through the motions in training, but he gives his all. He’s definitely a different person but I quite like it — his gear is shocking but I like him!

‘I like the fact he wants to play football, I like the fact he wants to train, I like the fact in every day in training he listens. When you are talking to him he takes the information on board.'

Pompey are due back in action at Exeter on Saturday - although with the west country bearing the brunt of the latest bad weather, there must already be doubt over whether that will be played.

What is Pompey's problem? Inconsistency? A squad that's simply not good enough? Complacency? Or something else? Discuss it on the forum.

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