Portsmouth: These fans were stunned at Oli Hawkins being played at centre-back

When the Portsmouth team was announced for their EFL Trophy match against Norwich City U21s, the expectation may have been that there would be some rotation.

However, there would have been the feeling that players would see rotation in their regular position, though that was the case for Oli Hawkins:

Team news: Here is how #Pompey line up for today’s @LeasingcomTrphy match (kick-off 12:30 pm) pic.twitter.com/nONEXxAuYR

— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) September 14, 2019

The 27-year-old, who is naturally a striker, was played as a centre-back by Kenny Jackett, while Anton Walkes was played in midfield.

He had not played a single minute of football during the 2019/20 season up until that point, as per Transfermarkt, so this may have been a way for Jackett to get him into the side.

However, what made this so confusing is that from his 117 career appearances, he had only played as a centre-back nine times before this game.

Things didn’t work out too badly in the end, as Hawkins played the full 90 minutes of Pompey’s 3-1 victory.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the announcement, including posts from stunned Portsmouth fans, can be seen below:

Hawkins at CB? Really?

— Dan (@dgkdanknowles) September 14, 2019

Ollie Hawkins as a CB is this a joke

— McLovin (@jacktate290) September 14, 2019

Hawkins at centre back

— Luis (@luis__pfc) September 14, 2019

Good to see young players play but Hawkins at cb really couldn’t you play someone like Casey there and have Hawkins on the bench and bring him on later

— Pompey Hazza (@hazzaYT) September 14, 2019

I know, let’s play a striker as a defender when there are not one but two defenders on the bench, great management. Not!!!

— Nel Ararezzo (@CartledgeNel) September 14, 2019