Abu Kamara’s fitness admission as he targets ‘special’ Portsmouth Championship return
Hopes are high over what Abu Kamara can achieve this season. The Hull City arrival details where he stands in terms of being at his best, after his Fratton homecoming.
Abu Kamara admitted he’s still a distance from being at his sharpest after his Pompey return.
But the returning Blues favourites still believes a memorable Championship campaign is achievable, after completing his £2.5m homecoming from Hull City.
Abu Kamara: ‘I don’t feel my sharpest yet’
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Kamara made his maiden appearance since that eye-catching deal was completed, playing 65 minutes in the disappointing 3-1 opening-day defeat to QPR.
The 23-year-old featured for his former employers throughout pre-season, but believes he’s still below where he needs to be in terms of fitness and match sharpness.
Kamara doesn’t anticipate it being long before he’s playing at full throttle, however, and helping Pompey achieve everything he believes they are capable of this term.
Kamara told The News: ‘I’ve definitely come back more mature and I’m ready to kick on with my career here.
‘To be honest, I felt okay out there but I don’t feel my sharpest yet.
‘I’m working my way towards that still, so hopefully I can get myself properly match fit and be flying again.
‘I want to hit the ground running now, I want to do well personally, do well for the team and this brilliant football club.
‘I want to be involved in something special with this team in the Championship.
‘I’m thankful and I just want everyone to keep supporting the team, because there’s so much more to come from us. I definitely believe that will be the case.’
There was immense disappointment at the opening-day defeat to QPR, with optimism soaring at the season’s outset after a summer of increased transfer spending.
The feelgood factor was as high as it’s been at Championship level for many a year, but it proved a deflating afternoon as the Londoners ran out 3-1 winners.
Pompey set a fast pace as they flew out of the traps and could’ve been more than a good to the good, before they lost their way shipping three goals in 14 minutes before the break.
But Kamara isn’t feeling too downhearted just yet, with the former Norwich City man seeing reason for optimism.
He added: ‘I think we showed our potential in that first 25 minutes, but the second half wasn’t brilliant.
‘It’s hard to pin down what happened, but we were mixed up and disconnected.
‘That’s frustrating, but there’s a long way to go and I feel this a place where I can play my best football. I can see positives over where this team can go.’