Leam Richardson has praised the way Paul Jones has breezed back into the Pompey team - but has stressed Ryan Fulton is a keeper with a very bright future.
Jones has reclaimed his Blues spot between the sticks after being recalled from his loan spell at Crawley to cover for Fulton's international call-up. He has kept two clean sheets and seems likely to keep the Liverpool teenager out of the team, at least in the short term.
Assistant boss Richardson said Jones had done well, but also had words of encouragement for Fulton, who most think can feel unfortunate to have lost his place.
Richardson told The News: ‘It has been difficult to pick the side for a while. Everybody is more or less fit, we have a good squad to choose from and I think the gaffer has sleepless nights over who to put on the bench let alone the starting XI.
‘Jonesie went out on loan to Crawley after injury to get his eye in and up to a level of fitness with a view to coming back to play. The gaffer made that clear to him and thankfully he has come back and kept two clean sheets.
‘It was hard to choose who to play against Carlisle because you have two very good keepers, but the manager gets paid to make those decisions. I think after two clean sheets it now has got to be Jonesie’s place to lose.
‘He has done very well, exactly what you expect. Jonesie is a seasoned pro, a seasoned keeper, and you expect a level of performance from him. He is turning them in at the moment.’
Richardson said of Fulton: ‘Ryan has done well. For a 19-year-old he is going to have a great career, unless something drastically goes wrong. Touch wood it doesn’t. He is a bright kid, has a really good work ethic. Liverpool have some really good keepers at the minute — and Ryan is included in that.’
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