Pompey have promised not to to over-use their new training-ground pitches when they return for pre-season.

The surfaces at Roko in Copnor Road were relaid at the end of last season and although they are ready for action, chief executive Mark Catlin says manager Paul Cook is considering his options for where the players can train after they return from their summer break on Wednesday.

Catlin said: ‘The training ground will be ready for pre-season, although we want to give the pitches as long as possible to take root. We can play on it now if we wanted but you always want to give it longer to bed in.

‘Those early weeks are quite important. Regardless, it is ready and able to be played on. Paul Cook is still looking at his pre-season and might not want to train on it. He will listen to the groundsman before deciding what to do.

‘The need to let new pitches bed in is the same at any football club.’

Pompey return on Wednesday and one surprise face among those being put through their paves will be striker Tom Craddock. The ex-Oxford forward has asked to train with the Blues and Cook is happy to let him join in. It is not known how likely a new deal will be.

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