Early team news ahead of Portsmouth's season opener at Stevenage
Pompey will be without Ellis Harrison and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild for their opening game of the 2020-21 season on Saturday.
The duo are both out injured and will miss the trip to Stevenage in the first round of the Carabao Cup (3pm).
Harrison has been sidelined with a calf setback and is yet to feature in pre-season.
However, the striker made his return to training yesterday and is hoping to be fit for the EFL Trophy clash with Colchester on Tuesday, September 8.
Hackett-Fairchild also trained with Kenny Jackett’s side, having twisted his knee earlier this summer.
The Colchester clash is also a possibility for the ex-Bromley man.
As a result, Pompey have 17 first-team players available for the trip to Boro.
Therefore, a youngster like Alfie Stanley, Eoin Teggart or Harvey Rew looks set to be named among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Stevenage boss Alex Revell will be hoping for a good start after his side’s League Two status was reprieved following Macclesfield’s four-point deduction at the end of the campaign.
Boro have had an overhaul this summer, with 12 new faces arriving at the Lamex Stadium so far.
They include Remeao Hutton, who's arrived on loan from Birmingham, former Shrewsbury centre-back Romain Vincelot and utility man Ben Coker.
All three could be handed debuts along with the likes of Femi Akinwande, Luke Prosser and Tyrone Marsh.