Why Kenny Jackett has been impressed by Portsmouth forgotten man Paul Downing
Paul Downing’s resolve and work ethic during his time on the Pompey periphery has been praised.
The centre-back remains firmly on the fringes of things after a January loan departure failed to come to fruition.
Downing signed a three-year deal when moving to Fratton Park on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers last summer.
Earmarked to be first-choice centre-back at the start of the season, the former Walsall man featured in the Blues’ opening seven League One matches.
Since the 2-2 draw with Burton on September 17, however, he hasn’t made an appearance in the third tier.
Christian Burgess and Sean Raggett have been Jackett’s preferred pairing in the heart of defence, for the most part, helping move Pompey into the automatic promotion race.
In addition, Tom Naylor and Oli Hawkins both featured in makeshift roles ahead of Downing on occasions.
And since Jack Whatmough’s return to full fitness following a long-term knee injury, he’s been ahead of the 28-year-old in the pecking order.
Consequently, Downing hasn’t played since the 2-1 EFL Trophy win at Walsall on January 7 and been omitted from the past 11 match-day squads.
The West Brom academy graduate hasn’t been sulking during his time in the cold, though.
Instead, he’s been improving his physique, which Kenny Jackett believes is paying dividends for Downing in his quest to win back a starting spot.
The Blues boss said: ‘Paul has done really well in terms of his fitness and his own physical fitness.
‘It has really come on and he looks fit and ready and is really pushing.
‘There is a little bit of everything he’s built up, right across the full spectrum.
‘Paul has been short of opportunities because of the form that my centre-halves have been in at the moment.
‘People ask me how he's been doing and what he’s been doing (while out of the team).
‘He has worked very, very hard. His fitness is ever-improving and that is a credit to him because being out of the squad and not having many chances since coming here, it could have gone the other way.
‘It can be quite hard. You can say to people to get fit but then they’ll reply “I need to play games to do that”.
‘I’m not making a particular case for it but the attitude of both Whatmough and Downing has been good.
‘That’s despite the performances of my centre-half partnership on the pitch.’
Downing has a battle to break his way back into Jackett’s starting line-up.
Before yesterday’s trip to Fleetwood, Burgess and Raggett were part of a rearguard that recorded four league clean sheets in the past five games.
The highly-regarded Whatmough also hasn’t featured for a minute since his comeback appearance against Scunthorpe last month.
Nevertheless, Downing is someone who Jackett would not hesitate to use if injuries or suspensions took their toll.
He added: ‘It has been frustrating for Paul since arriving.
‘After earlier in the season, he hasn't had a lot of chances or opportunities, really.
‘But he’s an experienced player and I wouldn’t hesitate to use him if we need him.’