McLeod set to be among eight Pompey triallists

Izale McLeod is expected to be among up to eight triallists joining Pompey on their pre-season tour.

The prolific ex-Barnet striker is pencilled in to be in Michael Appleton’s squad headed for Spain this morning – along with former Southampton pair Brian Howard and Simon Gillett.

Last week’s triallists – Jon Harley, Simon Eastwood and Mustapha Dumbuya – are also anticipated to be on the Gatwick flight to Malaga for the 10-day training camp.

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They will bolster an 18-man squad, the bulk of which will be made up of the club’s development group.

And for Appleton, the next week-and-a-half will help him to decide whether to pursue the triallists permanently.

He said: ‘If you include the two goalkeepers, there probably will be seven or eight triallists.

‘Simon Gillett and Izale McLeod have also been mentioned but you will have to wait and see.

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‘There’s a possibility quite a few triallists will be there on the plane.

‘The more the merrier because we’ve got 10 days to look at them and come to a decision.

‘With Simon (Eastwood), Harley and Dumbuya as well, I expect there to be 18 players in total.

‘We have only got two games out there, so we’ll have enough to get through them.

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‘We have got to thank the triallists. They are being patient with us in a way and want to go and play for a fantastic club and this is what it is.

‘But, at the end of the day, they have come here, they are training, they are fighting for their lives because they want a career.

‘If they can impress along the way then there will be something there for them.’

– NEIL ALLEN