Portsmouth boss on where new Fratton favourite must improve after big Wrexham lesson
The right winger was substituted at half-time in the defeat at Wrexham
John Mousinho has pinpointed where Gustavo Caballero must improve in order to thrive at Pompey.
But the Blues head coach is adamant patience is required for the Paraguayan under-23 international, who only arrived in English football at the start of this month.
Caballero was taken off at half-time against Wrexham on Tuesday night and replaced on the right wing by Harvey Blair, with the Blues trailing 2-0.
It represented a third successive start in eight gruelling days on the road for the loanee from Santos, who has swiftly impressed the Fratton faithful.
Ultimately, a vastly-improved second-half display at the Racecourse Ground couldn’t rescue Pompey, who pulled one back through Zak Swanson as they went down 2-1.
And Mousinho has explained the reasoning behind the decision to bring off Caballero.
‘It was a much more difficult game for him’
He told The News: ‘At Wrexham, there were elements of the press in general we didn’t get right, not just Gustavo.
‘I think he has come in and done extremely well in the two games he has started, but it was a much more difficult game for him.
‘He didn’t quite look at it in possession and out of possession, so I just wanted to take him off. When we had Harvey on the bench. I thought it was the right thing to do.
‘It wasn’t just Gus, we didn’t press well across the pitch, we didn’t press well, and that cost us the first goal. There were too many mistakes in the build up to that goal, the second goal was slightly different.
‘Too many mistakes and that just wasn’t Gustavo, combined with some of the general play. You are asking a lot for a player to come in and start three games in a week, we just wanted to bring him out and go with somebody else.
‘It’s fine, it’s going to happen to any player, no issue whatsoever. We’ve had it with plenty of players through the years, so it’s not a problem.’
The Paraguayan’s four Pompey appearances have all come away from Fratton Park
All four of Caballero’s Pompey outings to date have come away from home - Preston, Charlton, Millwall and Wrexham.
However, the Blues are back at Fratton Park on Saturday to face high-flying Hull (12.30pm), which would represent the winger’s home debut.
Certainly the loanee has injected added attacking quality down the right flank, a problem position which has seen eight different players start there so far this season.
And, while still exceptionally early in Caballero’s Pompey career, there are encouraging signs he could provide the solution that Mousinho has spent the season searching for.
The Blues’ head coach added: ‘We obviously made the substitution at half-time, but I don’t think you can look at that and say there’s someone to single out.
‘I think Gus has played pretty well twice away from home. At the minute we have shown some really good away form, now it’s back to Fratton Park.’
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