Portsmouth handed huge Conor Chaplin boost as Ipswich Town recall saga nears conclusion

Conor Chaplin’s January recall saga looks finally set to come to an end - and it’s a positive decision for Pompey.

The Ipswich Town loanee has been at the centre of ongoing drama throughout the window as uncertainty grew as to whether his parent club would trigger a clause to bring him back to Portman Road this month.

After the initial deadline came to an end last Friday, the Tractor Boys, who sit third in the Championship, opted to defer the matter for another week.

Speaking in his pre-Southampton press conference on Thursday, John Mousinho confirmed the new cut off was today, with the Blues boss signalling his intent in keeping Chaplin for the remainder of the campaign.

Ipswich boss makes encouraging Conor Chaplin admission

The head coach revealed talks would be taking place this afternoon with Ipswich over the 28-year-old’s future, but that now appears to be over, with McKenna confirming the forward will see out his deal at PO4.

And official confirmation will come as soon as that recall deadline has passed.

The Tractor Boys head coach told the East Anglian Daily Times: ‘I think that's likely (he will stay at Portsmouth). Look, until the clause is done... we can confirm it afterwards. I think that's the plan as it stands though.

‘He's playing week-in, week-out now and starting to pick up some better form in a team that's starting to pick up some decent form themselves as well.

‘At the moment I think that’s the status of it but we’ll confirm it as and when that’s confirmed.’

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