A boost and a blow as Portsmouth received mixed news over injured first-team pair in Ipswich aftermath

Rafferty underwent an operation on Wednesday to resolve a stomach muscle issue which has sidelined him for the last month.

The former Preston right-back is now likely to be missing for another 3-4 weeks, according to Danny Cowley.

However, there is optimism over Lowery, who is pencilled in for a comeback next weekend following a grade one hamstring tear.

The central midfield will not be risked in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night against Aston Villa under-21s.

But Cowley is confident Lowery could be back available for Saturday’s visit of Fleetwood to Fratton Park.

He told The News: ‘We are hopeful of having Tom back for Saturday, but won’t risk him on Tuesday.

‘It was never a bad hamstring tear, only grade one, which is a low level one, so we were hopeful for Ipswich, but now it won’t be much longer.

‘As for Joe, he had the operation on Wednesday and we are hopeful it will be 3-4 weeks before we see him back.

‘You always miss key players and he had a really good start to the season, but I think Connor has done brilliantly since coming in for him.’

Indeed, Ogilvie has operated as a makeshift right-back for Pompey’s last three fixtures, including Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Ipswich.

With Zak Swanson on the bench and Kieron Freeman not making the squad, the 26-year-old continues to be preferred in the role, despite being left-footed.

Regardless, it was another solid showing from the battling Ogilvie, who remains popular among the Pompey faithful.

Cowley added: ‘It’s on Connor’s wrong side, it’s not easy, especially with a left footer playing on the right, which is harder than a right footer on the left.

‘There are less left footers so, growing up, the right footers maybe have more practice playing on the wrong side.

‘Even though he’s a left footer, we asked Connor if he could play it and he said he’d never done it before – but he’s done well.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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