'Massive concern' - honest verdict delivered on Portsmouth man amid struggles to 'slot straight in'

Pompey’s reliance on Madiodio Dia amid another defensive injury crisis is a ‘massive, massive concern’.

That’s the honest verdict of The News’ Neil Allen, who believes addressing the young centre-back’s ‘erratic’ displays should be a matter of urgency for John Mousinho and his coaching team.

The 22-year-old moved to Fratton Park for an undisclosed fee from Norwegian top-flight side Haugesund in January, after Pompey were told Dundee centre-half Luke Graham was not for sale.

The Senegal defender subsequently featured six times for the Blues over the second half of last term, with his presence among the Blues’ ranks allowing Mousinho to sell Ibane Bowat to League One Huddersfield and sanction the loan departures of Josh Knight (Reading) and Hayden Matthews (Bradford) during the summer.

Seen as a back-up option to the preferred central defensive pairing of Conor Shaughnessy and on-loan Brentford defender Benjy Arthur, it was considered a gamble worth taking, especially with Regan Poole also remaining on Pompey’s books.

Yet Dia has already been called upon more times this season than many would have expected following injuries to both Arthur and Shaughnessy.

His latest appearance came as a starter in the south-coast derby defeat against Southampton, with the rookie defender accompanying Poole in the back line.

There were once again examples of the towering defender’s unpredictable and inconsistent ways at St Mary’s - something the Fratton faithful are already well accustomed to just nine months into his two-and-a-half-year contract.

As a result, Allen is concerned novice Dia’s shaky performances could cost the Blues dearly as they wait for good news on Arthur and Shaughnessy.

‘It’s worrying watching him play’

Speaking on the latest episode of Pompey Talk, Allen said: ‘Mousinho has said plenty of times that he (Dia) has not played that much football in his career, he's still learning, he's still adjusting. But he's very erratic in games, which really concerns me - and, again, it showed on Sunday as well.

‘You (also) do get worried when people are now mourning the loan departure of Josh Knight and Hayden Matthews to a certain extent.

‘Not many people at the time were saying, “don't loan them out”, but now it's like, “why did we loan them out?”

‘It's hindsight, and Mousinho's got a certain amount of belief in Dia, but he does struggle at times.

‘It's very worrying watching him play sometimes as well.

‘He'll do good things, I've seen him do a lot of good things, but yeah, it's a massive, massive concern for anyone watching him.

‘You can't be that erratic at this level. I know he's learning and all that, and I know we need patience. But you can't have patience with every signing.

‘You need some signings that can just slot in straight away, like Luke Graham would have been able to do.’

Authur’s back fracture is expected to rule him out until the new year. Meanwhile, the groin issue picked up by Shaughnessy before the international break means he’s unlikely to feature against Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Left-back Connor Ogilvie, who can deputise at centre-back, also remains sidelined following knee surgery in the summer.

According to Allen, that leaves Mousinho with no other option but to keep faith with Dia.

He added: ‘They can't put Marlon Pack there, because who replaces Marlon Pack in the centre midfield, which is another problem still never resolved.

‘Do you put Swanson in there, Ogilvie’s still injured.

‘I know people don't want to see Dia there, but who do you play there instead?’

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