'Absolutely outstanding': Portsmouth boss' delight with improving January signing
The Paraguay international has scored once in 11 appearances since joining the Blues on loan from Santos
Not only is he rapid on the wing, but Gustavo Caballero has been applauded for the speed it has taken him to successfully adjust to the English game.
John Mousinho has been hugely impressed with the progress of the deadline day arrival from Santos as he continues to settle into life on the south coast.
The head coach believes the Paraguayan loanee’s display in Monday’s hard-earned 2-2 draw ranks as his best for the Blues to date.
Representing Caballero’s 11th outing for the club, the 24-year-old’s energy, work-rate and commitment once again shone, despite Pompey forced to play with 10 men for 73 minutes.
And with Mousinho crediting an ongoing improvement, the right-winger’s displays have delighted him.
‘He was a real livewire all game’
He told The News: ‘I think Oxford was Gus’ best performance for us, all that was missing was probably a bit of final product.
‘But he put some very good deliveries into the box, the work-rate and energy he showed was absolutely outstanding - and that’s why we brought him to the football club.
‘He’s adjusted (to English football) pretty quickly. His first start for the club was away to Charlton, he had an impact in that game. His next was a goal away at Millwall. The time he has taken to adjust has been a lot quicker than a lot of players coming in in January, particularly having come from South America.
‘Gus gives us a huge amount of energy, a lot of attacking intent, his work-rate is second to none, some of the distance he covers and high-speed distances is absolutely brilliant. He is quick as well.
‘What he provides us with is a really brilliant outlet, although there have maybe been times where, if we’ve had a lot of the ball, maybe he’s not been quite at his best.
‘Gus operates really, really well in space and, as soon as we went down to 10 men on Monday, it suited him well. Albeit with 11 he looked a real threat as well and opened up a couple of times in the far channel, went away from Ciaron Brown and created some really good opportunities.
‘Just before Keshi’s goal, that cross just got cut out - and I thought he was a real livewire all game.’
Pompey hold an exclusive transfer option on Caballero at the season’s end, with the fee having already been pre-agreed as part of the deal.
Before then, the newly-capped Paraguay international is challenged with keeping Mousinho’s men in the Championship over their remaining six matches.
Their next fixture is at Middlesbrough on Saturday (3pm), with Caballero expected to keep his place on the right flank.
‘We’ve got a really good player there’
Mousinho added: ‘The last bit for Gus is to provide a bit more final product in terms of assists and goals. We’re always going to ask a bit more from our wide players in terms of making sure they deliver that.
‘He has improved, the performances he’s put in. He was a threat against Norwich as well and, when he has put everything together, he’s got the goal and a couple of threatening moments.
‘If we can get that on a bit more consistent basis then we’ve got a really good player there.’
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