Influential Portsmouth figure gives Blues important fitness boost with pre-season return in sight

Ebou Adams is on course to return to Pompey pre-season training at the end of June fully fit.

The influential midfielder was carefully reintegrated into the Blues’ first team ranks at the end of last season following a knee injury picked up in the 6-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road prior to the March international break.

The setback stumped a hugely impressive start to life at Fratton Park following a £500,000 move from Derby County in the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old scored two goals - including a late equaliser in the south-coast derby against Southampton - and registered one assist in the 16 games he managed before picking up the injury in the latter of stages od the defeat in west London.

Adams subsequently sat out Pompey’s next five games as their Championship status remained on the line, but came off the bench to help the Blues record an important 1-0 win against Leciester on April 18.

The midfield enforcer was handed a 60-minute run-out against Coventry days later, but wasn’t utilised in the games against Stoke and Birmingham as the club’s second-tier safety was secured and the need to use him was reduced.

More than a month has now passed since that outing against the Sky Blues. However, Adams has proven he’s back to full fitness after starting The Gambia’s latest international.

He was named in manager Johnny McKinstry’s latest starting XI as they lined up against World Cup Finals-bound Iran in Portugal.

And Adams featured for the entire 90 minutes as he and his team-mates ran out 3-1 losers against a side destined for their fifth successive World Cup.

The run-out will prove important for both Pompey and The Gambia. The African nation begin their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign in September, with Adams an important player in the Scorpians set-up.

Adams is also expected to be the main enforcer in the Blues’ midfield as they begin a third straight season in the Championship.

The Fratton Park are expected to add to their midfield ranks during the transfer window. However, following a successful transition to life at Fratton Park following his January arrival, the former Forest Green Rovers man is anticipated to be one the first na,es on the team sheet.

Adams and Co are expected to report back for Pompey duty around June 25.

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