Portsmouth Keen to Retain Talented Midfielder

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has revealed that the club are willing to wait to find out if Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson will return to Fratton Park after impressing in League One before a torn hamstring ended his campaign in January. 

Robertson was a key part of the League One champions’ midfield in the first half of the season and the player will be looking to build on his first full season at senior level.

Mousinho Willing to Wait for Talented Youngster to Re-Join Portsmouth

The 21-year-old Australia international, who was born in Scotland, made his debut for the Socceroos in a 3-1 win over Ecuador in March 2023.

He represented England at underage level but was handed his debut for Australia off the back of an impressive 2022/23 Premier League 2 campaign with Manchester City under-21s.

Robertson was a key player in that City side that secured a third successive league title at that level, scoring five goals in 18 appearances. The talented Citizens went on a 14-game unbeaten run to end that season to secure the title by a margin of 13 points.

It was only a matter of time before he was sent on loan to gain first-team experience and after a loan spell at Ross County in 2021 saw him handed limited game time, Mousinho swooped to secure his services in August 2023 on a loan deal until the end of the season.

His displays have made the 38-year-old eager to retain the player as Mousinho plots a campaign in the Championship and according to Portsmouth.co.uk he clarified his stance on the situation:

The same source indicates that Everton have been credited with an interest in the Man City talent, who will see his current deal with the Premier League champions expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Toffees are light in the centre of midfield so there may be an opportunity for the 21-year-old to secure minutes in the top flight should he move to Goodison Park.

However, his success with Portsmouth before his injury ensures that he would be a key component of Pompey’s midfield in the second tier.

Having never experienced football at Championship level to date, it would be the next step to attain what level the player is at and there are areas of his game that need to be polished if he is to make it at the highest level.

Robertson ranked second for key passes with 1.3 per game for the League One Champions and third for successful dribbles per game, highlighting his ability on the ball operating in central areas.

Defensively there are areas he could improve, but it is by no means a weakness of his game.

He is very much a player who catches the eye moving into advanced areas but he will want to add to his goal contributions, having scored one goal and assisted four in his 24 League One appearances.

There is a talented footballer here who should be wary of joining a Premier League club where he may not get the opportunities he deserves.

Robertson and Portsmouth appear a perfect match and Mousinho is right to wait if he can secure a deal to resign the player on loan from Man City.