'Played out of position': Portsmouth boss pinpoints where he sees Eoin Kenny's future
The 20-year-old has featured in five Blues friendly since arriving from the League Of Ireland Premier Division in July
Pompey’s ongoing winger crisis is forcing newcomer Eoin Kenny to play out of position.
That’s according to John Mousinho, who is convinced the Northern Ireland Under-21 international’s future actually lies as a number 10.
The promising youngster has featured on either flank for the Blues during his five pre-season outings, having joined from League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk last month.
Kenny had primarily been utilised as a right winger with the Lilywhites in a fledgling career which has already seen him amass more than 100 appearances by the age of 20.
However, Mousinho believes the Irishman is best-suited to the number 10 position at Fratton Park - even though he’s unable to play him there at present with other holes requiring plugging.
‘He’s more suited as a 10 with the way we play’
Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘I think Eoin is coming on very well.
‘He has come over from Ireland and is learning the level of intensity and the level of fitness we require, how quick everything is out there. It’s a big adjustment for him, which we expected.
‘You can see we have chucked him into a lot of the games early in pre-season, against a good Wycombe side, against Darmstadt last weekend, and everything is quick.
‘We’re probably playing him out of position as well, I think he’s probably best off as a 10. So there are plenty of positives there with Eoin.
‘He’s more suited as a 10 with the way we play. I know I’ve obviously moved Segs out there, but I do like playing with two out-and-out wingers with searing pace on the outside. So, if he keeps on developing, I think he will be a 10 for us.’
Four wingers injured for Pompey at present
Keshi Anderson, Franco Umeh, Harvey Blair and Josh Murphy are all unavailable at present, devastating Mousinho’s wing options approaching the season’s kick-off against West Ham.
Of the quartet, only Blair has featured in friendlies this summer, although he felt his hip during the warm-up for last weekend's goalless draw in Darmstadt and, as a consequence, was not involved.
Pompey are currently waiting to discover the full extent of Blair’s latest set-back in his injured-hampered two years on the south coast, while are continuing to pursue long-time target Abu Kamara.
‘The number 10 will be a good spot for him’
In the meantime, however, Brooke-Smith, Segecic and Kenny appear to be Mousinho’s sole options on the wing at the Hammers in Saturday’s Carabao Cup trip.
He added: ‘Eoin has that running ability, that running power, he can go beyond, he has a good eye for goal, and he can link play really well.
‘He can develop on both wings as well, but, at the minute, the number 10 will be a good spot for him.’
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