Portsmouth manager John Mousinho is excited to see new signing Myles Peart-Harris take to the field on Saturday, and rightly so given the potential he has shown so far in his career.
Peart-Harris joined the club earlier on in the week and could be given his first start for the league-leaders today. Having joined from Premier League side Brentford on loan until the end of the season, the midfielder is certainly an exciting acquisition.
It is believed that Portsmouth beat a number of Championship sides to sign the 21-year-old and he looks likely to play a huge part in Mousinho’s team.
Although Portsmouth do sit at the top of the table, one small slip-up could see them knocked off of the top by any of the three teams below them. Just three points separate the top four, with Peterborough and Bolton both having games in hand.
Although their form has been somewhat inconsistent in recent weeks, Portsmouth’s promotion hopes have been handed a huge boost through the signing of Peart-Harris. Having lost Manchester City loanee Alex Robertson, who was pivotal to the success of the first half of the season, to injury, Pompey have somewhat lacked quality in the middle of the park since.
The 21-year-old should bring just that, and he already has EFL experience to his name through a loan with Forest Green Rovers last season.
Portsmouth travel to Port Vale today with the hopes of extending their lead at the top of the table, and the new signing is expected to feature.
Speaking about Peart-Harris to The News, Mousinho seemed thrilled to have the midfielder within his ranks.
“Myles is a very different player to Alex (Robertson). Alex is a really clever player who can manipulate the ball really well, but Myles has that top-end athleticism to really affect us.
“By the time Alex was coming to what was the end of his time here, we were thinking he was more suited to playing as a six. I think Myles is more suited to using his physicality and power higher up the pitch.
“He’s a different profile to Alex, different player – but just as exciting, to be honest.
“He can effectively play as six, eight or 10 for us – or potentially off the left. We want him higher up the pitch, but he has the athletic capability to play as a six.
“He’s a really powerful player who can go past players and have a big impact for us.”
Writer’s View
Ever since Alex Robertson’s injury, Portsmouth have struggled. They now, more than ever, need to put a winning run together or else they could slip out of the automatic promotion places.
The signing of Peart-Harris is an excellent one and he brings obvious quality to a midfield that has lacked it in recent weeks. Portsmouth fans should be excited and will expect to see him in the line-up against Port Vale on Saturday. His versatility will certainly come in hand in the coming months and that might just be enough to get Pompey over the line.
