'I love having him around': Portsmouth boss addresses summer signing's first-team absence
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international has made one Blues appearance this season
John Mousinho insists Eoin Kenny remains part of his plans and admitted: I love having him around.
The summer signing from Dundalk has yet to make his Football League debut for the Blues, despite impressing at West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
Since his 30-minute cameo off the bench on the opening of the season, the Northern Ireland Under-21 international has made just one of Pompey’s five Championship squads.
And Mousinho has been delighted with the 20-year-old since arriving on the south coast in July.
‘He can affect things, so it’s just a case of being patient’
He told The News: ‘Eoin's in around every squad and he's just slightly unlucky to not make some.
‘He’s done absolutely nothing wrong, he’s trained well and he performed well when he came on against West Ham, so no issues there.
‘It has never been a case of loaning him out, Eoin doesn't affect us with squad numbers and I love having him around. He's a really good kid, I think he can affect things, so it's just a case of being patient.
‘We've made certain calls at certain times around players and hopefully we've got them right. If you're not winning games then maybe I'm getting a couple of decisions wrong.
‘And that always means that those players who haven't played get pushed into your thoughts a bit further.’
A potential number 10 for Portsmouth
Although he largely operated on the right wing for the League of Ireland Premier Division club, Mousinho has previously spoken of the 20-year-old evolving into a number 10.
Another summer signing earmarked for a big future is Brooke-Smith, who joined from A-League Wellington Phoenix three weeks after Kenny’s arrival.
Aged 18, the left winger is regarded as a development project by the Blues’ head coach, although has still made four appearances in all competitions this season, including a Championship start against QPR.
And Saturday was the first match-day squad of the season in which Brooke-Smith wasn’t included.
‘A bit more of a long-term development project’
Mousinho added: ‘We definitely brought in Luke to potentially affect the side this year, but also to be a bit more of a long-term development project.
‘He's only just turned 18 and I think there's a huge amount of adjustment coming over from the A-League to the Championship. With all the players that's the case, but particularly when you come so far from a very, very different league, it's a tough, tough ask.
‘I thought he came and had a good impact against Derby, so we were pleased with him.’