Injured Portsmouth pair set for contract extensions during fight for fitness
Pompey record holder Joe Hancott is set to be handed a three-month extension to prove his fitness.
And Academy keeper Leon Pitman will accompany him as the highly-regarded duo emerge from long-term injury.
Hancott dislodged Gary O’Neil as the youngest debutant in Blues history when he started against Fulham under-21s in August 2017.
The left-back made a further two appearances this season during the group stages of the Leasing.com Trophy.
However, he missed the rest of the campaign after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee in October.
The 19-year-old had pencilled in a return for the start of pre-season, a timeframe clearly now of sync following the suspension of the Football League campaign.
With the third-year scholar out of contract this summer, it is understood Pompey are ready to grant an additional three months to enable his fitness to be assessed.
It’s a policy the Blues have employed in recent years on occasions when a promising youngster has been sidelined while approaching the end of their existing deal.
Last summer, Josh Flint was granted an extension and scored in a 3-1 Leasing.com Trophy win over Norwich under-21s in September.
He then earned an additional three months, before released in January and spending the rest of the season with the Rocks.
In the case of Pitman, a year Hancott’s junior, he has been sidelined with a broken wrist collected in training.
The goalkeeper, who hails from the Isle of Wight, signed apprenticeship forms in July 2018 and is out of contract this summer.
However, Pompey are set to also offer a three-month extension to allow Pitman to demonstrate he is over his injury and potentially stay at Fratton Park.