Chaplin could move on this week - but will Pompey let him?
Monday, 27th Aug 2018 22:50 by pompey-fans.com staff

Pompey say there is interest in Conor Chaplin going into the final week when he could leave Fratton on loan - but insist he will not be allowed to leave unless he is replaced.

The Blues have recalled teenage striker Dan Smith from a loan spell at Bognor, where he has scored four goals in four games, and have been linked with a loan move for QPR's Paul Smyth.

But whether either of those two developments add up to the club being willing to let Chaplin move on remains to be seen. The striker was not in the squad at Doncaster on Saturday after asking to be left out.

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett told The News: ‘There is interest in Conor. There is always interest in centre-forwards and there has been interest in him, obviously. But similarly there is nothing changed and if you are saying to me right now who we have got to come in, well we are not imminently going to sign someone.

‘We are waiting for this week, maybe something will open up for us because generally, obviously, there is a lot of movement in the last week and we will see. If we can strengthen we will and, similarly, we are not going to weaken our squad at this stage.’

Jackett explained Chaplin's wish not to be included in the squad at Doncaster on Saturday, saying: ‘In his own words, Conor didn’t feel that this weekend he was in the right frame of mind. Possibly that was him thinking of his team-mates.

‘I have some sympathy with his situation, but similarly there is no change going into the last week. If we find a replacement then fine, we’ll contact the clubs that have made enquiries. If we don’t get a replacement nothing changes.

‘All players, not just Conor, make their own decisions on what they do and as a manager you react off that. I understand that he is frustrated and he’s very much a team player who would want to be able to give everything for the lads and focus 100 per cent. I reiterate, there is going to be no change in stance.’