Portsmouth's new flexible friend - why Abu Kamara is perfect fit for Blues' attacking ambition
The Hull City recruit started in four different positions for the Blues during his previous Fratton Park stay
Abu Kamara’s exhilarating footballing qualities need little re-introduction to a Fratton faithful who still fondly recall his previous Pompey presence.
Yet, in the current climate, it's the 23-year-old’s natural versatility which represents the most priceless attribute of all for John Mousinho.
With wing options alarmingly sparse at present, primarily through injury devastating early-season options, the Blues now boast an experienced performer blessed with the ability to operate on either side.
Although Kamara’s previous Pompey stay was defined by his outstanding performances on the right flank in a highly-productive partnership with Joe Rafferty, it should be remembered he also enjoyed success wide on the left.
Indeed, for the opening three months of a 2023-24 season which would yield the League One title, the Norwich loanee largely operated on the left wing, with Paddy Lane flourishing on the opposite side.
Debuted on the left wing at Leyton Orient
As a left-footed player, Kamara’s full debut arrived on the left at Leyton Orient in August 2023, with Mousinho’s men registering an eye-catching 4-0 victory.
Once Anthony Scully’s problematic knee injury worsened, the youngster would start eight out of the next 10 league fixtures on the left wing, scoring his maiden Football League goal at Peterborough.
Nonetheless, having been preferred on the left ahead of Jack Sparkes and Gavin Whyte, it wasn’t until the end of November before Kamara was restored to his more favoured right flank.
Just 2,749 were present at Burton Albion to witness a 2-0 success which saw the youngster handed only a second start on the right flank - and he would remain there.
With Lane introduced to the left wing for a 3-0 victory at Northampton the following match, in which the Irishman scored twice, Mousinho’s wide options were now nailed down for the rest of a remarkable season.
Over the remaining 29 fixtures, Kamara started 23 of them on the right flank, while there was even a right wing-back outing for the reverse fixture against Burton (March 2024), which the Blues won 2-1.
‘It was the way he glided with the ball, jinking past people’
Rafferty once told The News: ‘Once Abu had that confidence, he was really difficult to stop and we established a good connection down our right.
‘It was the way he glided with the ball, jinking past people. He was a left-footer on the right wing and naturally wanted to come inside with the ball, which enabled me to go on the outside because I love overlapping.
‘I drilled it into Abu that he didn’t have to pass me the ball. The way I saw it was I’m making that run for you, so if you want to pass me it, pass me it, but you make the decision.
‘If you don’t, I will never have a go at you, I’ll keep making that run and, whatever you decide, that’s fine. Just make the right decision for yourself.
‘His decision-making was very good, though, and he slipped me in so many times down that right, allowing me to pull the ball back or make a cross.’
Four goals out of 10 came from left wing
Incidentally, the only time Kamara was restored to the left after November 2023 was at Fleetwood (January 2024) - and he grabbed the winner in a crucial 1-0 triumph.
Of Kamara’s 10 goals over that promotion-winning season, four were actually scored from the left-wing position, despite undoubtedly producing his best performances on the right.
And it’s that versatility which Mousinho will be savouring in the ongoing absences of Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson, Harvey Blair and Franco Umeh after finally bringing his former loanee back to the south coast.
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