Blue keeping fingers crossed on Keene stay

Guy Whittingham is hopeful of extending James Keene's Pompey stay.

But the Blues caretaker boss is being forced to wait to land Millwall winger Therry Racon.

Whittingham is keeping his fingers crossed Keene will be allowed to stay on at Fratton Park.

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However, he knows Pompey are relying on the goodwill of Keene’s parent club Elfsborg to allow that to happen.

The 27-year-old’s loan ends around February 8-9, with Pompey keen for him to face Bournemouth on the latter date.

The Pompey manager would like to see the former Blues trainee remain until the end of February at least.

He said: ‘It’s a month-to-month contract like they all are.

‘We have to make sure they (Elfsborg) are happy to let us have him for another month and he’s happy. That’s all we can do.

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‘Their season starts in March. We’d like to keep him until the end of February for another month.

‘But he’s someone else’s player so we’re in discussions with them.

‘The parent club have been fantastic – really, really good – and we can’t thank them enough.

‘They’ve done both of us a bit of a favour.

‘James is a great character and another hard worker.

‘You can’t get enough of them. Hopefully he and David Connolly will get their breaks (in front of goal) and that will lift them and the rest of us.’

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Meanwhile, a move for Racon is on the backburner for now after the 28-year-old failed to have his contract at Millwall terminated by mutual consent.

That leaves Pompey looking towards the emergency loan window opening on February 7 as a possible route to bring the player to the club.

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