Left-back Brandon Haunstrup has found himself settling on a new position in recent weeks, being converted to a right-back over the past 135 minutes of football.

The 23-year-old began his spell there with two assists after coming on as a substitute against Southend United in a 4-1 win, before netting his first Pompey goal against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup on Monday night.

First-choice Ross McCrorie has had to sit out with injury, while James Bolton and Anton Walkes have been out of favour in recent weeks and have had to make do with watching on from the bench or the stands.

Jackett said via Portsmouth.co.uk: "I don't think in terms of our creativity of full-back we have been quite good enough this season.

"That is not necessarily picking out any individual, but, against a Southend team playing a back five, I did think there were a lot of spaces for our full-backs.

"Brandon can drive with the ball – and he did that again on Tuesday.

"In that particular match, he did enough to be able to keep his place at right-back and didn't disappoint anybody, particularly myself, against Harrogate.

"That’s now two good performances from that particular position from Brandon, which just goes to show a natural full-back is a natural full-back, whichever side they play."

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The 23-year-old full-back has now played 50 appearances for his boyhood club, and has had to serve as back-up left-back since making his Portsmouth debut during the 2015-2016 season, finding Enda Stevens, Dion Donohue and Lee Brown above him in the pecking order.

Haunstrup has also been shipped out on loan twice during his time at Fratton Park, making one appearance for Bognor Regis Town in the 2014-2015 season and then playing three times for Sutton United in the 2016-2017 campaign.

The Verdict

Jackett is right to come out and defend his decision to use Haunstrup at right-back, his choice having paid dividends so far with three-goal contributions in two games on the right side of the defence.

The 23-year-old defender appears to be taking his chance in the Pompey team, and his experience at right-back could do the defender well in the long run as he looks to carve out a chance of remaining at Fratton Park.