Portsmouth were looking like a team that were going to take League Two by storm last season but their season ultimately ended in disappointment, when they lost 3-2 on aggregate in the Play-Off Semi Final against Plymouth.

Manager Paul Cook now faces the unenviable task of picking up his demoralised players who came so close to earning promotion to League One last season, only to miss out in the most agonising way possible through the lottery of the Play-Offs.

The club has already been dealt a blow with highly-rated 21-year-old centre back Adam Webster moving on to Championship club Ipswich Town, with 19-year-old Matt Clarke switching to Fratton Park from Portman Road as part of the deal.

Webster is the first name of a number of first team players expected to be courted by teams in higher divisions.

A number of key players from last season have also returned to their parent clubs after loan spells with Portsmouth such as Liverpool goalkeeper Ryan Fulton, Sheffield United full back Kieron Freeman, and Sheffield United striker Marc McNulty.

However, Cook does have a wealth of young prospects waiting in the wings to step up and make a mark at the club.

There are a number of voids left by players who were influential last season, and here Football League World writer Steve Day takes a look at THREE young players the Portsmouth manager must use next season......

 

Matt Clarke

The first name on the list is a player that has already been mentioned.

Clarke was on loan with Portsmouth last season and he was used as bait by Ipswich Town to force the transfer of the outgoing Webster.

Clarke might only be 19 years old but he was a first team regular last season making 33 appearances for the club over the course of the 2015/16 campaign, and even managed to get on the scoresheet once to ensure he became a popular figure with the fans.

It is hard to say how Clarke will perform without the talented Webster alongside him but he is a player who appears keen to learn, and is already playing with a maturity beyond his years.

His versatility allows him to also slot in at full back meaning he can offer depth across a number of positions which is a rare quality is players so young.

Ben Close

If there is one player you need in the unforgiving environment of League Two then it is a tough tackling ball-winning midfielder.

Portsmouth already have a couple in their midfield in the form of Danny Hollands and Michael Doyle but in an age when a five man midfield is often used, and the rigours of a 46 game league season plus cup games can take its toll there is more depth required in the middle of the park.

Close is a 19-year-old central midfielder who made 14 appearances for the club last season and impressed during his spells on the pitch.

He is far from the finished product but he is a player who could thrive if given more game time.

He might only be 5 feet and 9 inches but the more he plays, the more he will adapt physically. This is a career-defining season for Close.

If he is coached and played in the correct way then he could push the likes of Hollands and Doyle for first team starts.

However, if he is shunned then he could be back down in the lower leagues back playing with the likes of Poole Town again.

Conor Chaplin

Up top is a position where Portsmouth do not exactly possess an embarrassment of riches.

The departure of McNulty back to the Blades is a loss of 12 goals from last season.

Matt Tubbs was sent out on loan last season showing the lack of faith Cook has in the striker, and formers Rangers player Kai Naismith is seen more as a winger than a forward.

Chaplin is only 19 years old but he already has 49 club appearances to his name and managed to score 11 goals in all competitions last season.

That is an incredible return for a player so young in this Portsmouth side.

If there is one player that encapsulates Cook's belief in the youth at Portsmouth then it is Chaplin.

He is a small player with pace to burn and he uses it to full effect against the more physical defences in League Two.

If given the game time, this could be the season when Chaplin really bursts onto the scene.