'Early days' - Portsmouth boss reluctant to admit Blues' right-wing problems have been solved
More players have played right wing for Pompey than any other position this season
John Mousinho believes it’s too early to tell if Gustavo Caballero is the anwer to Pompey’s right-wing problems.
However, the Blues boss is revelling at finally having an out-and-out winger operating down the right flank heading into their latest Championship survival battle.
Pompey have utilised 13 players in that role to date this term, with Paraguay under-23 international Caballero the latest to try his luck at making the position his.
And he’s certainly making a good fist of it, with the January arrival bagging his first goal for the club in Saturday’s impressive 3-1 win at Millwall.
In the two games Caballero has started since arriving on loan from Brazilian side Santos on deadline day, against Charlton and the Lions respectively, the Blues have scored six goals, secured maximum points and moved six points clear of the relegation zone.
That has given them huge confidence ahead of their next daunting task away at Wrexham tonight - a game the winger is once again expected to feature in.
Yet Mousinho is reluctant to put pressure on the 24-year-old and claim his right-wing prayers have finally been answered.
Pompey finally boost out-and-out width
When asked if Pompey’s right-flank problems had finally been solves, the head coach said: ‘I think it's early days. I think with the type of player we've been trying to recruit, I think Gus is much closer to that.
‘We've had promising fits and starts with the likes of Harvey (Blair) and Franco (Umeh), but they've not managed to stay fit.
‘I think Franco, in particular, is naturally a right-winger. We've had some players that have slotted in there and done a really, really good job over the past 18 months, but maybe not quite the profile that we've been looking for.
‘To have that out-and-out width on both sides (with Millenic Alli currently operating down the left in the absence of Josh Murphy) is something we've been looking to get.’
A position difficult to fill with right player
Terry Devlin, Conor Chaplin, Mark Kosznovzsky and Florian Bianchini are just some of the other players who have been asked to operate on the right wing this season.
All have given it their best shot, but have failed to deliver the expected levels needed to put the fear of God in opposition defences.
Adrian Segecic, whose preferred position is as a No10, has made most gains playing there. Indeed, the young Australian remains Pompey’s top scorer with six league goals and has been a key player for the Blues during his first season in English football.
And it’s his efforts that hold Mousinho back from referring to the right-wing position as a problematic area for the Blues this term.
‘I think it's difficult to isolate a single position as necessarily an issue. The other thing to look at as well is when we have played certain players there,’ added Mousinho.
‘So, if you look at Segs (Segecic), for example, we've played Segs out there and we're thinking, right, is that a problem? He's actually our top scorer.
‘It's very difficult to look at it and go, it's been a bad thing because he's scored goals from that position and he's arrived at the back post really well. He's scored a massive goal against Sheffield Wednesday, against Watford, in and amongst others.
‘I know he's scored a couple from playing as a 10 as well, but a big part of that early boost in form that we've spoken about since the New Year, I don't think it's been a problem.
‘I just think not having the option to have out-and-out width is something we've been looking for.’
For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth predicted XI and bench v Wrexham: Tough calls to be made amid gruelling schedule