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Jamal Lowe
EFL Trophy Games/Goals: 2/0
The 24-year-old winger is Portsmouth’s leading scorer this term and perhaps the South Coast club’s biggest threat going into Sunday’s Wembley clash.
He hasn’t had a standard footballer’s upbringing, falling out of league football after failing to break into Barnet’s first team squad as a teenager. A short stint as a P.E. teacher followed his release from the Bees before turning out for eight non-league clubs until Pompey came calling in January 2017.
Fast, nimble, and tricky Lowe has already caused Sunderland’s problems this season as Reece James struggled to deal with his directness during our 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park back in December.
It’s unknown which full-back he’ll be facing this time with James, Adam Matthews and Denver Hume all in with a chance at starting in the final - whoever it is though will need to be on top of their game.
Matthew Clarke
EFL Trophy Games/Goals: 5/1
A firm fan-favourite at Fratton Park, Clarke is giant of a defender that is paramount to any chance of Portsmouth success, both in their promotion bid and EFL Trophy ambitions. If Sunderland’s are to succeed in winning the Checkatrade Trophy on Sunday, then Will Grigg will need to get the better of Pompey’s player of the season.
Still only 22-years-old, he was linked with a move further up the pyramid in the summer with Pompey failing to reach the play-offs in 2017/18, but such was his importance chairman Michael Eisner claimed it would take an “astronomical” bid to prize him away from the south coast.
Both the club and Clarke will be hoping to end this term with both promotion and a trophy in the bag, but if that isn’t achieved, don’t be surprised to see Clarke move to a team higher up the league ladder.
Omar Bogle
EFL Trophy Games/Goals: 0/0
Of all of Portsmouth’s January signings, loanee Omar Bogle is the one that has impressed most, smashing in four goals in just eight games in League One.
He struggled on loan at Birmingham City, scoring only one goal in fifteen games, but his brute strength and aerial ability seem to have given Pompey a new dimension.
Although he is yet to make an appearance for Pompey in the Checkatrade Trophy (he was injured for the semi final clash against Bury), he is expected to lead the line for Kenny Jackett’s Portsmouth at Wembley - ahead of Oliver Hawkins - and will present a huge challenge for the the likes of Tom Flanagan and Jack Baldwin.