Pompey boss' message to McNulty

Paul Cook has revealed he expects to shuffle his Blues pack over a busy period of promotion action.

Cook has kept the same starting XI for the past three games heading into today’s crucial promotion tussle with Plymouth.

That settled formula has delivered three league wins on the bounce.

But it’s meant a stint on the bench for Pompey’s top goalscorer.

The Scot has bagged 11 strikes since arriving from Sheffield United, but has had to be content with cameos in recent games.

The Plymouth clash marks the start of five games in 15 days, however.

That factors in Tuesday’s trip to York and the rearranged clash with AFC Wimbledon.

Cook sees that being the time when he may play around with his options and give minutes to those who have not been featuring.

He said: ‘Marc McNulty’s been having a great season and is a threat for us.

‘We’re lucky at the minute with the games. We might tinker it for the midweek games when they come around.

‘We have got that little bit of freshness about the squad.

‘We have got people champing at the bit to play.’

Meanwhile, Cook has words of praise for Michael Smith going into today’s Plymouth clash.

Smith, again, impressed at Dagenham last weekend and it was another victory with the striker and Gary Roberts in the side – their fifth from seven games together.

Cook said: ‘The important thing is Michael needed to play when he first came in.

‘People are ring rusty, if you like. In our opinion, he’s getting better and better. He’s such a good player.’

– JORDAN CROSS