Portsmouth turn to Academy 17-year-old as left-back hunt continues

The Blues boss is seeking to bring in competition for Lee Brown in the full-back position.

Leif Davis has emerged as a target, with Leeds considering letting the highly-regarded 20-year-old out on loan.

Stoke are also interested in the left-back, who, in addition, can operate as a left-sided centre-back and made five appearances last season.

In the meantime, second-year scholar Rew is serving as Brown’s back-up during pre-season.

For Saturday’s opening friendly against Norwich under-23s, Rew was among 11 changes made at the interval in the 2-0 success.

It was Brown who opened the scoring from a free-kick on 30 minutes, before Ronan Curtis added to it four minutes later.

Another left-back challenger Joe Hancott, is continuing his rehab from the ACL he sustained to his right knee in October 2019.

Hancott, who is contracted until December, was not with the team during their Five Lakes training camp last week.

Instead it is Rew offering left-back cover, the 17-year-old who hails from Gosport and signed professional terms in October 2019.

Jackett said: ‘Harvey Rew played on Saturday and is a young player with a very nice left foot.

‘Joe is recovering, he didn’t come away with us last week.

‘While I can go off peoples’ recommendations, such as a physio, until you actually do get them out and playing football, you never know.

‘I just try to assess it myself, so we will see with Joe.

‘He is on the way back and working hard, so we will try to bridge that gap and have a look at him after his injury.’

Hancott made two appearances last season. However, a serious knee injury sustained in training ruled him out of the campaign from October.

Rew made his first-team debut as a holding midfielder in the Leasing.com Trophy against Oxford United in October.

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