Appy: Pompey denied in bid to scrap Crewe visit

The Railwaymen visit Fratton Park on Saturday, October 13.

However, the Blues could be without Lubomir Michalik and Mustapha Dumbuya due to international duty.

Michalik is on standby for Slovakia, while Dumbuya has been named in Sierra Leone’s squad.

A match can be postponed if three players from a club are away representing their country.

But Appleton argues the fact Pompey are only allowed a 20-man squad should be taken into consideration.

In addition, Josh Thompson (ankle) and Darel Russell (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

But on Wednesday the Blues’ approach to the Football League was declined.

He said: ‘One day, further down the line, I will have my day with the Football League.

‘We have a possible scenario where we lose Lubo and Muzzy for the Crewe game through internationals.

‘But the Football League are not prepared to do anything.

‘Lubo, at the minute, is on standby.

‘The problem is you are in no-man’s land.

‘We might not find out until Thursday.

‘If you have a squad of as many players as you want, most teams have 28 to 30 or at least 25.

‘Then, if three are missing, the game is called off because it is crucial.

‘What if I have only got 20 players and two of them are missing and both defenders?

‘At some point surely the integrity of the game and the competition has to come into play.

‘It’s difficult enough for any squad to lose three players but I would like to see the percentage of how big their squad is compared to ours missing two players.’