Guy: Burton too soon for fit-again Painter

The defender did not make the Pompey squad for the trip to the Pirelli Stadium.

Last week the left-back returned to full training following a hamstring injury picked up at Mansfield.

In the build-up to last weekend’s trip to the Pirelli Stadium, the Blues boss had been weighing up recalling him.

However, he opted against it and, instead, Danny East continued in the role, with Dan Butler giving cover from the substitutes’ bench.

Now with an extra week on the training ground to get under his belt, Whittingham believes Painter could be in the frame for Saturday’s visit of Fleetwood.

‘Marcos has been out with a hamstring and had one full-week’s training so we thought it would be better he had a bit more time,’ said Whittingham.

‘Joe Devera was injured on Saturday but it could have been a left-back that went down.

‘Although a replacement could only be playing 70-80 minutes, you want to make sure he is ready for that amount of time rather than putting him on the bench thinking he might do 10 minutes.

‘You have got to have somebody ready who could do 90 minutes if they came on.

‘Marcos may be ready for Fleetwood, he will have another week and we will assess it then.’

Devera’s hamstring strain is still being assessed by Pompey’s medical staff.

As for East, another casualty from Burton, he has received five stitches in a cut above the eye sustained during the opening 12 minutes.

Whittingham added: ‘Danny was caught with an elbow.

‘It was a bit like the Johnny Ertl sending off against Oxford really in a way.

‘Johnny has gone up and had his elbow up there with his jumping.

‘He didn’t mean his elbow to hit anybody.

‘It is not a booking and I think the Burton referee got that spot on but it is like the Johnny one.

‘Danny had it glued first of all and then had around five stitches put in. He carried on for us and did well.’