Danny Cowley says he'd love to have George Hirst back leading the Pompey line next season - and the manager remains hopeful it may happen.

Leicester are believed to be ready to sell him or loan him out again - and the Blues must be contenders if the latter option is taken up.

Cowley told The News: 'We’d love to have George back. We’re really respectful of Leicester and know he goes back and will train there in pre-season.

‘They will rightly get a good look at him and hopefully see the progress he made. I know that they are pleased with the way we looked after him and the work we did with him, so that gives us satisfaction clubs know their players will be looked after here.

‘We’d love to have him back but ultimately that will be a decision made firstly by Leicester City and then George and his representatives.

'The way he developed in our environment last season, he takes a lot of credit for that. I was so proud of the resilience he showed and how hard he worked. From a coaching perspective, to see young players work really hard and get their reward is pleasing.’

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