‘Perplexed’: Ex-Portsmouth favourite makes intriguing assessment over Ipswich Town loanee as frustrations continue

Guy Whittingham has been left ‘perplexed’ over Conor Chaplin’s Pompey form.

And the former Blues favourite is unsure why Ipswich Town opted to extend the forward’s recall deadline, with two weeks to go in the transfer window.

It’s been a frustrating return to Fratton Park for the 28-year-old, who is yet to score in any of his 21 outings in all competitions following his deadline-day arrival in September.

With just one assist to his name during his stay with his boyhood club, concerns over his form have grown from supporters as the campaign’s progressed.

With injuries crippling John Mousinho’s attack this term, Chaplin has appeared on the right-wing on several occasions but returned to his more-natural number 10 role in recent weeks - a position the head coach is hoping will ignite his season.

Although Pompey picked-up a much-needed 1-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon, Whittingham delivered a concerning assessment of the loanee’s PO4 stay so far after failing to score once again.

Guy Whittingham ‘perplexed’ over Ipswich loanee

The ex-Blues boss told BBC Radio Solent: ‘Conor, I think we are all a little bit perplexed as to why he hasn’t got himself on the scoresheet.

‘He’s a favourite at Fratton Park from what he did coming through as a kid when he played, coming up from the academy.

‘You’d just expect a little bit more from him. You’d like to think when he scores he’d be on his way.

‘But he’s got to get into positions to score goals and he’s not quite doing that at the moment.’

Ipswich, of course, hold a recall option on Chaplin’s season-long loan deal at Fratton Park, which was expected to come to a close last Friday.

However, Kieran McKenna revealed the Tractor Boys had taken the decision to defer the matter for another week, renegotiating a new deadline running until Thursday.

And Whittingham has been left puzzled by that decision from the Championship-promotion hopefuls, who have as many as 10 fit forwards currently in their ranks.

‘Yeah, it’s a strange one extending it for a week,’ he added.

‘Perhaps Ipswich are working on some sort of transfer or some sort and want to make sure if they don’t get it.

‘Why not extend it for two weeks until the end of the transfer window? I don’t understand. There’s obviously a reason for it but I don’t understand.’

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Pompey verdict after Sheffield Wednesday triumph

Pompey claimed their third victory in six Championship matches on Saturday afternoon, with Adrian Segecic’s second-half strike enough to see off Sheffield Wednesday.

The triumph keeps the Blues one point and one place above the relegation zone but crucially closes the deficit to a host of clubs above them in the standings. And Whittingham was pleased with his former side’s showing at Hillsborough.

‘They found that way through a well-worked goal.

‘When you are attacking a team who are trying to get back into defensive positions, Barry Bannan was on this right-hand side, you’ve got to take advantage of players being out of position. It’s those decisive moments.

‘Shaughnessy’s pass was spot on for Alli and he provided the cross, Bishop went for it and then it ended up with Segecic, who put it into the goal and off the post.

‘Portsmouth got into a couple of decent positions during the game, especially in the first half.’

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