Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes has reflected on Conor Chaplin's loan spell, praising the forward's character despite a quiet return in front of goal. The 29-year-old, who rejoined the club on a season-long deal from Ipswich Town in September 2025, made 37 appearances and scored just twice before moving to Leicester City on a free transfer this summer.

Hughes confirmed in June that Pompey were not pursuing a permanent deal for the academy graduate. "At this point I would probably say no," Hughes said. "We're really grateful for Conor's impact around the group last year."

A quiet homecoming

Chaplin's homecoming was underwhelming on the pitch, failing to hit the heights many expected when he was signed at the end of the 2025 summer window. His first stint at Fratton Park saw him amass 122 appearances and 37 goal contributions before spells with Coventry, Barnsley and Ipswich. Portsmouth ultimately decided against making his return permanent, a choice Hughes framed as a footballing decision rather than a reflection on the player's professionalism.

"To come in as a loan player and show that level of commitment to a group in terms of how he developed it, how he worked with the younger players, how he trained consistently every day, and how he sort of engaged with everything that we ask of players in this football club is testament to him," Hughes added. "But it's not something that we pursued at the minute and not something we're really actively looking to bring in."

Chaplin's Leicester frustrations

Chaplin's move to Leicester City has been hampered by injury. He missed much of pre-season and the opening two matches of the League One campaign with a minor knock. After returning to face former club Ipswich in the Carabao Cup and starting a league outing against MK Dons, he suffered a recurrence of the issue during the goalless draw at Stadium MK. He subsequently sat out the final four matches before the international break.

Leicester head coach Russell Martin told reporters that the club had to resist the temptation to fast-track his return. "He’ll be in a good place after the international break," Martin said. "I think we’ll utilise this time."

Portsmouth's current context

Portsmouth's focus is now firmly on their own Championship campaign, where they sit 19th in the standings with eight points from seven games. Their recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses from the last five outings, a sequence that includes a 2-2 draw with Blackburn last time out. The team's next challenge is a home fixture against Norwich City, as they look to improve their position.

Hughes revealed that the club even sought feedback from Chaplin after his loan. "We've also sought his feedback on what he saw, what he thought and how we can get better as a group as well," he said. With players like Josh Murphy and Luke Brooke-Smith currently on the injuries list, the squad's development continues as they prepare for the south coast derby next month.

The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk