Bryn Morris handed shock start as Portsmouth boss springs surprises against Oxford
Kenny Jackett has sprung a shock by leaving skipper Tom Naylor out of the side to face Oxford United.
Pompey’s boss has elected to hand Bryn Morris his first appearance since May 2019 when he featured against Accrington.
The former Middlesbrough man has suffered a torrid time with injury this season, but, after 15 months, he’s back in first-team action.
Instead, Lee Brown takes the captain’s armband from Naylor, having himself won the nod ahead of Steve Seddon.
Elsewhere, Ross McCrorie dislodges James Bolton at right-back, while Marcus Harness is preferred to Ryan Williams on the right wing.
There is also no room for 14-goal scorer John Marquis, who finds himself on the nine-man bench for the League One play-off semi-final first leg.
He joins Oli Hawkins as Jackett’s striking options in reserve, with Brett Pitman not included in the 20-man squad.
Pompey: Bass, McCrorie, Burgess, Raggett, Brown, Morris, McGeehan, Harness, Cannon, Curtis, Harrison.
Subs: MacGillivray, Naylor, Marquis, Evans, Downing, Bolton, Williams, Seddon, Hawkins.