PORTLAND United boss Franklyn Clarke has revealed his squad was invited to set their own targets for this season in the build-up to hosting Hamble Club tomorrow (3pm).

In their midweek de-brief after the 6-0 defeat at leaders Horndean, Portland’s players set targets that were “in line” with Clarke and assistant Sam Poole’s lofty aims of their own.

With Portland singing off the same hymn sheet, the Blues now turn their attentions to 16th-placed Hamble, who lie one spot and five points above the islanders in the Wessex League Premier Division.

Clarke told Echosport: “We asked them to lead in terms of what they want from the season and where do we want to finish.

“We asked them to set their own targets and where they’ve said they want to finish is in line with what me and Sam want.

“In order to do that we need to be winning games like (tomorrow) coming, especially at home.

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“Our home form’s good, so we’ll be looking to continue that.”

He added: “We feel we’ve covered all bases going into Hamble. They’re just ahead of us in the league so we’re looking to close that gap.”

Skipper Ryan McKechnie (knee) is estimated to be two weeks away from full fitness and fellow midfielder Josh Williams serves a one-game suspension.

Goalkeeper Mike Edgar misses out, so new signing Brad Smith could deputise between the sticks. Fellow new recruit Liam Sayers could also feature after scoring a hat-trick for the reserves last time out.