‘That’s the temptation’: Portsmouth boss weighs up turning to young marksman to bolster shot-shy attack at QPR
Pompey are the second lowest scorers in the Championship, with the young marksman being considered to bolster that return at Loftus Road.
John Mousinho is considering turning to Mackenzie Kirk to get Pompey’s survival push firing.
The Blues boss admitted he’s weighing up letting the fit-again striking prospect loose on QPR, as he searches for the right formula with his front line.
Mousinho on starting Kirk: ‘That’s the temptation’
The challenge for Mousinho’s men is to arrest a run which has seen them pick up a single point from a possible 15, as they go to Loftus Road.
Pompey know a negative result could see them end the day in the relegation places for the first time since Boxing Day, as the Championship pauses for the international break.
The requirement is to improve a return which sees the Blues as the second lowest scorers in the division, with only relegated Sheffield Wednesday conceding fewer than their 26-goal total.
Jacob Brown led the line as the Blues failed to hit the back of the net against Derby County from 27 shots, with Colby Bishop dropped after returning just one league goal from open play this season.
But Kirk was also back in the equation with his first minutes in five weeks off the bench, after dealing with an Achilles issue.
The summer arrival from St Johnstone arrived with a reputation for scoring goals, with a prolific record coming through the ranks and then bagging nine SPL finishes last term despite his team finishing bottom of the table.
Now Mousinho is mulling over using the 22-year-old, who has one Pompey finish from four starts and 10 sub appearances.
When asked if he was considering starting Kirk at QPR, Mousinho said: ‘That’s the temptation.
‘Mack scored against Coventry, but Mack’s not had a huge amount for us in terms of starts.
‘He’s had maybe four, but by the same token if you’re looking to score more goals across the board (he’s worth considering).
‘Mack’s got his goal and maybe you can think that’s the one we need to turn to, how can you turn to players elsewhere?
‘We just need to take those things objectively and try to get the right balance between things like how do we want to play and what we want as a threat in the box
‘But there’s been some real positive signs from Mack across the season, certainly with high expectations of him for the future coming in.
‘There’s no rush on anything there, but if he comes in and does well then that’s great.’