Duncan Barkes

So it's simply a matter of being reactive as well as proactive.

So 9 out of 10, Pompey, for looking after Harry Clout.

Who knows?

It has to be said that it's understandable that there is speculation amongst some fans on social media.

What they're saying is that the Australian, they're calling it an experiment, doesn't seem to be working.

And we are deprived of, have been deprived of the services of our Australian contingent for a disproportionately large amount of time.

There's no question about that.

However, different reasons in each of the cases, entirely authentic injuries which have to be dealt with.

There is the possibility that the players themselves have been trying too hard in training, were trying too hard when they were on the pitch.

or just found the whole business of stepping up a grade into the championship from wherever they were playing in Australia is just a bit of a bridge too far, especially when you're young and your system is still quite...

I'm not going to say soft.

There's no such thing as a soft Australian.

But you're not as battle-scarred and as bruised and able to... Scarred is probably the word, with the rough and tumble of the championship.

And so what would be a knock or a slight strain turns into something a little bit more serious.

However, we have had, to my knowledge...

We have had no updates on a likely return date for Thomas Waddingham or whether he is not appearing because of injury or because he's got work to do.

And of course, a large amount of that knowledge belongs to Waddingham himself.

And it would be intrusive of the club to make announcements about his well-being one way or another.

However, it's perfectly legitimate for fans and commentators to wonder.

want to know and then inevitably start to speculate but let's hope all is well with him that he turns into the asset that we bought him as and he becomes an asset to us not just as a saleable commodity but a valuable player on the pitch who starts banging him in on a regular basis