Player hunt continues

But the Pompey boss has no idea if he will get the green light to make additions.

Appleton is operating with a squad of 17 players at present. But three are sidelined with injury while defender Kevin Long is now suspended for Saturday’s meeting with Oldham.

Appleton is keeping tabs on a host of options, with former Stoke man Darel Russell one player mooted as an option.

Blackburn midfielder Imane Linganzi spent a period on trial at Eastleigh, with Appleton considering whether to invite him to the club.

He said: ‘We definitely need to get some players in, although I’m not sure if I can.

‘He (Linganzi) has been on trial with some other French lads. Whether we’ll get him in and have another look I don’t know.

‘We aren’t able to do anything at the moment, though. I have to be patitent and see what next week brings.’

Lee Williamson is expected to be missing on Saturday as he recovers from his grade-one hamstring tear.

Kieran Djilali was sidelined at Carlisle by a back problem worsened by Pompey’s marathon nine-hour coach trip to Cumbria on Friday.

Adam Webster limped off in the first half at Brunton Park with a hip problem

Appleton said: ‘Adam got knocked on his side and his hip’s sore so we’ll see what happens with him. Lee is improving but next week may be too soon.

‘With hamstrings you have to be cautious. We don’t want him to miss 12 games.

‘Kieran had a spasm getting on the coach. He had been on it for eight or nine hours. It got gradually worse overnight.’ Appleton was stewing about the manner of the defeat on Saturday.

Free headers for Carlisle’s first two goals proved critical in the loss.

Appleton said: ‘There are certain situations you have to handle better than we did. At times we played some good stuff and were free-flowing.

‘But you have to earn the right to play and we never did that.

‘I was angry about how we conceded, the build-up and free headers for the goals. The players were told in no uncertain terms if you’re going to concede goals like that you’ll make it very difficult for yourself.’