Boss thrilled to sign McGee and Pitman
It has been a fruitful week for Pompey in the transfer market.
Kenny Jackett has captured goalkeeper Luke McGee from Tottenham and striker Brett Pitman from Ipswich.
The duo could make their first appearances for the club in Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Bognor (1.30pm kick-off).
And Jackett is delighted to add the duo to his squad ahead of the 2017/18 League One campaign.
The Blues boss said: “We’re very pleased to have brought a goalkeeper and centre-forward in.
“They’re obviously big positions in the squad that were needed and very good additions to what we already have.
“In terms of forward options, I felt we needed an experienced player and Brett’s someone with a record of scoring goals and winning promotion.
"They’re obviously big positions in the squad that were needed."
“It wasn’t quite working for him at Ipswich, so we’ve been working hard to bring him down. Being a south coast lad, he fits the bill for us.
“His brain takes him into dangerous areas and he has good touch and awareness. When he does get chances, he has a useful habit of finishing them.
“We’re delighted that he’s here with a few weeks of pre-season still to go, as we build up to the Rochdale game.
“I saw Luke on loan at Peterborough last season and he more than held his own, so I was confident in him coming back to League One.
“It’s good that he has experience of this division and at 21, his best years are obviously ahead of him. We’ll be working hard with him to make sure he fulfils his potential.
“He’s a very good shot-stopper and has an all-round game, but he still needs to keep working and take this opportunity.”
Michael Smith has returned to fitness following an ankle injury, but defensive duo Matt Clarke (groin) and Nathan Thompson (foot) are still sidelined.
Jackett said: “Clarke will maybe miss a month of the season. It’s frustrating because he started well, although hopefully a lot of his rehab period is taken up by pre-season.
“We’re hoping that Nathan will be near being back when we start the season, although he won’t have trained and will need to get fit.”
Tickets for Saturday’s match at Nyewood Lane are priced £10 for adults and £5 for juniors (under 18) and can be bought on the gate.