Danny Cowley has suggested that Pompey's two EFL Trophy games were just warm-ups for the League One campaign.

The Blues are back in Fratton Park League One action for the first time since December 11 when they host MK Dons this weekend.

The only league game played since then was the 0-0 draw at Cambridge United on January 3 and Cowley says it'll be good to play at Fratton - and in the league.

He told the Pompey website: 'It’s been an incredibly long time and we’ve missed Fratton Park, as well as our excellent supporters. It’ll be great to see them on Saturday. They mean a lot to us and we have to wish them a belated ‘Happy New Year’.

'We were starved of football over Christmas and so we’re looking forward to this upcoming run of games. The two Papa John’s Trophy matches were used for preparation purposes and we got some valuable minutes into the group, including Clark Robertson, Louis Thompson and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

'As a consequence, we’re physically in a really good place as we go into MK Dons and the other matches that are ahead. We’re on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league. I’m not sure I can say we’re definitely a good team yet because we’re still a work in progress, but that’s what we’re aiming for.

'Every single day we try to get better and I’m so ambitious for them for the second half of the season — there’s a lot to play for and I’m excited about what’s to come.'

Cowley praised MK Dons for the season they are having - the Dons are fifth in the table going into this weekend, six points ahead of eighth-placed Pompey, who have two games in hand on them.

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