'He's got to...' - Verdict delivered on St Johnstone loanee Toby Steward amid Portsmouth goalkeeping issues
Many fans believe Toby Steward is the answer to Pompey’s current goalkeeping issues
Toby Steward can expect to continue his development away from Pompey for the remainder of the season.
With Nico Schmid’s costly mistakes against Stoke thrusting the Blues’ goalkeeping department under the spotlight once again this term, a January recall for the highly-regarded St Johnstone loanee appears to be some fans’ ready-made solution.
That’s something the Blues will be reluctant to do, however, according to The News’ Jordan Cross.
He believes the 21-year-old will be allowed to carry on enhancing his ever-growing reputation north of the border in the Scottish Premiership, regardless of the difficulties both Schmid and Daniel Bielica have experienced between the sticks in the Championship to date.
But come next summer. Cross believes academy graduate Steward will be handed the opportunity to make a serious bid for the No1 jersey at Fratton Park and fulfil his dream of representing his boyhood club.
‘At some point, you have to take the plunge with these players’
‘There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and January 1st,’ Cross told Pompey Talk when asked about a potential Steward return during the January transfer window.
‘I think Pompey would ideally like to see Toby stay out and continue his development because it's been a fantastic period for him north of the border where his stock has risen immeasurably.
‘He's highly regarded anyway. He had a really good loan at Crawley, but he's really soared north of the border, up there in the Scottish Championship and now in the SPL, where he's getting really good experience.
‘I think those close to Toby would have thought he was more or less ready for it (competing for the Blues’ first-choice keeper role) this season. I don’t think Pompey quite agreed, but by next summer I think it's a key moment in Toby Stewart's career.
‘He's got the contract now and they will think, if he's not ready by next summer, then when is he going to be ready?
‘He's got to come back and compete. Whether that's going to be as first choice, as second (choice), he’s got to come in and try to fight himself into the team because he's got the attributes to do it.
‘At some point, you have to take the plunge with these players.
‘If you're good enough, you're old enough and there's got to be a point where they've got to say, right, we're going to go with him.’
Steward’s stock on the rise
Steward was handed a new three-year contract by Pompey earlier this year as the club looked to tie him down to a long-term deal as his stock continues to rise.
Despite that faith, the youngster is yet to make a senior appearance for John Mousinho.
Instead, he has been getting a taste of first-team football away from Fratton Park, firstly with Crawley Town and now St Johnstone, where he was accumulated 59 appearances under Simon Valakari.
This season, in his absence, both Schmid and Bielica have been handed opportunities to establish themselves as No1 in the Blues’ latest Championship season.
However, neither have truly seized the opportunity, with Schmid’s latest errors in the defeat to Stoke giving Mousinho a considerable headache during the international break.
Pompey, who also have Ben Killip acting as third-choice keeper this season, are next in action against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, November 21.
As well as Steward, the Blues also have Josef Burisk currently out on loan at AFC Wimbledon.