Jack Whatmough has been warned it's a long road back to fitness - but everyone is backing him to complete the journey.

The 21-year-old centre-half has been hit by another major injury blow, damaging cartilage in his left knee. He faces around six months on the sidelines and it's the third long lay-off he has had to endure in his career to date.

But Pompey boss Kenny Jackett has no doubts he can battle back to fitness and into the team.

He told The News: 'It’s a long road ahead and one he knows too well. He’ll be okay. He has to work hard mentally as well as physically — but he can do that. That’s where it is. It’s a road he knows well and he has to have a determination to get back. There has to be focus.

‘I’ve spoken to him a lot about his path and what he has to do, how he has to look at it and take responsibility. I don’t know him that well, but in the short space of time I’ve been here he seems a real good bloke.

‘He’s a Portsmouth lad who’s come through the youth system and the club means a lot to him. He’ll be back. I’ve spoken to him a lot about it. You can’t help but think “can I get back? Can I have a football career?”

‘For him it’s talking through his options and making sure he covers everything. Then he has to do everything in his power to work towards making it back into the first team. It’s going to be a long road for him.

‘Looking at the big picture for him and his family, it must cross your mind (the future). Definitely. I’ve talked to him about it. Right now all he has to worry about is his rehab. Big picture or not, that needs doing. It’s a long process, but he knows what’s required.

‘You have to think like that. I retired through injury myself. You have to look at the bigger picture, definitely. There’s no suggestion at all of that, though. He has to rehab the knee whatever he’s going to do in the future. He’ll be fine.’

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