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Pompey won't be put on trial

Pompey's manager is happy with the way his squad is shaping up - and doesn't see the need to swell numbers at pre-season training by opening the doors to trialists.

While Andy Awford won't turn away a trialist if he appears to be one who can add quality to the ranks, he doesn't want to see a stream of them trying their luck - as has been the case in some recent summers at Fratton.

Awford told The News: 'I’ve got my squad — the only ones that will come in now are new signings, that is where we are at. If a triallist does come in it will because he hasn’t been flagged up yet. So if you see one soon it is not me being clever!

‘But if the season started tomorrow I would be very confident and at the moment I don’t need to bring a triallist in. I don’t sign a player unless I have seen him play and presently there are no triallists out there that I think will improve what we have got.

‘There are another couple of targets and if they happen great. If they don’t come they don’t. I am comfortable with what we have got, although if we can add quality to it then I will. If someone rings me who I trust and respect, or part of our recruitment team flag up a player, then I might have them in. Never say never, it needs to be a right triallist.'

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