Zach Swanson

Pompey are hinting that if they feel they have sufficient strength in depth at left-back to provide quality cover in the event of Connor Ogilvie being injured suspended or needed elsewhere, they will send Jacob Farrell out on loan.

Farrell saw his first action after 17 months injured coming off the bench at Watford, and looked in good shape and capable of doing a good job.

John Massino has to balance the need to have cover in place against the enormous backlog of injuries the squad are dealing with, with the need to continue the development of a young asset who will remain contracted to Pompey for two seasons after the current one.

Massino is saying quote, Watford was Faz's first league game since September 2024, that's a huge amount of football to miss for someone we're considering a loan for.

It's something we've spoken about, but we said that it's something that can't happen because we need him now.

I wasn't lying when I said that.

We needed him the other night, and he was very close to coming on against Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.

I was delighted he got some game time against Watford.

He's a good player, it's just about getting him some game time and trying to maximise that asset for us as a football club.

We've seen Jacob Reards once in the league, I thought he played really well, but it was a long time ago and he's had many injuries since.

One of Sunday's heroes, Zach Swanson, is talking about his surprise role as a centre-half.