Jackett will go on putting faith in younger generation
Wednesday, 21st Mar 2018 23:16 by pompey-fans.com staff

Kenny Jackett won't lose any sleep over sending young Pompey teams out into action.

Saturday's line-up had a youthful feel to it - especially a back four, in which each member was 21.

Other young players like Ben Close and Connor Ronan are getting their chances but while Jackett accepts the squad needs more experienced heads added in the summer, he has no qualms about using younger players as long as they consistenly show him they are up to the task in League One.

The boss told The News: 'It’s sort of ironic that the player with the most experience — Christian Burgess — stepped out and we went with 21 year-olds, with Oldham hardly having a shot.

‘Considering their ages, it is something I thought about. In the end, I didn’t think it was the right day for three at the back — you’ll end up getting pinned back with five and never get out.

‘I thought it was the right day for a back four and also felt Jamal Lowe and Kal Naismith needed to play and Brett Pitman needed to play. So it leant itself towards keeping the three midfield players, putting the three lads up front and than a flat back four.'

He added: ‘It was quite a young back four, but they dealt with a front pairing who had given us a lot of problems earlier in the season. The form of those two was quite a threat, but I thought they were quite quiet on Saturday, so credit to the team.’

Pompey’s manager said of other youngsters in his plans: ‘They are a good age, not too young. Ben Close has more than 50 games and it’s the right age and right profile.

‘We do need to have more experience, there is no doubt about it, but there’s a core of players that are a good age and have enough games. ‘We hope they are on an upward curve, not over the top coming down.’