The latest from the Pompey treatment room as Naismith, Hawkins, Pitman and Donohue are all sidelined for the Checkatrade Trophy game with Northampton
Pompey physio Bob Bacic will have his hands full this week as several first team faces will be frequenting the treatment room.
Kal Naismith, Oli Hawkins, Dion Donohue and Brett Pitman will all be unavailable for this weekend's Checkatrade Trophy clash with Northampton at Fratton Park.
Scotsman Naismith grabbed the only goal of the game in the Blues' 1-0 victory over Plymouth last weekend - but eventually succumbed to an injury he sustained in a collision with Argyle keeper Remi Matthews.
After being put through by Conor Chaplin, the 2016/17 Pompey Player of the Season toepoked his effort under the onrushing Pilgrims stopper, and it was a double-dose of agony for Naismith, as not only did his effort rebound off the post, but he also took a hefty blow to his knee.
Naismith's knee is badly swollen and is still too inflamed for a scan, and he will be absent for Pompey this weekend.
Oli Hawkins was also withdrawn from the action against Plymouth due to injury.
The striker-come-defender felt a pull in his hamstring just before the hour mark and was substituted for precautionary reasons.
Results from a scan earlier in the week show that the former Dagenham man has a Grade 1 hamstring tear, enough to put him out of action ahead of Northampton.
Blues skipper and top scorer Brett Pitman is also out with a hamstring problem.
The 12 goal striker has been recovering from the strain which he picked up during the 1-0 win over Southend on November 18th, and has missed Pompey's last two games against Peterborough and Plymouth due to the issue.
Kenny Jackett is hopeful that Pitman will return to training at the beginning of next week, but Saturday will come too soon for the captain.
Dion Donohue completes the Pompey sick list, with lower back/gluteal discomfort, and he too will not be in the squad this weekend.
Speaking to Express FM this week, Pompey manager Kenny Jackett said he is hopeful the injured quartet will be back in training next week ahead of the highly anticipated Sky Bet League One trip to Charlton.
Long term absentees include Jack Whatmough, who is now off of crutches in his recovery from a knee problem, and Milan Lalkovic, who had a sugar injection in his right achilles after a scan revealed damage. Lalkovic remains in a protective boot and is not expected to be involved this side of Christmas.
Loanees Tareiq Holmes-Dennis and Damien McCrory are recovering from their respective knee injuries at their parent clubs.
Niall McCaughan
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