Pompey set to cancel loan man's spell

The versatile defender aggravated a groin problem against Bournemouth and had to be substituted in the second half.

It’s a recurrence of an injury which had kept him out of training for the majority of last week.

Connolly’s one-month loan is scheduled to expire on September 18.

However, with injury likely to keep him out a while, he is expected to be sent back to Leeds.

That will bring the number of loans at Pompey down to four, opening up another spot.

Michael Appleton is now on the look out to bring both a defender and striker into his squad before Sunday’s trip to Crawley. In the meantime, former Blues defender Hermann Hreidarsson will today start a trial with the club.

Regardless, Appleton has been left reeling by the latest blow to his squad.

He said: ‘Paul has picked up a groin injury which is a concern.

‘We are a little bit worried about that one.

‘It is the same one as he had last week.

‘Who knows the extent of it yet but he could be serious.

‘He may possibly have to go back to Leeds.

‘The emergency loan window opens Friday and I’m trying to get a defender and striker in.

‘We are at our maximum in terms of loans who can play.

‘But we have seen one of them injured (Connolly), so he needs to be replaced.’