‘He will win points for Portsmouth on his own’: Blues star hailed by EFL experts - as John Mousinho call made
Pompey fell to a 3-2 defeat against Hull City on Saturday.
Josh Murphy has the ability to singlehandedly keep Pompey in the Championship this season.
That’s the no-nonsense verdict of George Elek and Ali Maxwell from the respected Not The Top 20 Podcast, who have made it clear the winger will be the difference for the Blues this term - if he stays fit.
This has seen Pompey slump down the Championship in recent weeks, while injury issues continue to effect the head coach’s plans.
The Blues have already felt the full force of Murphy’s absence in the opening weeks of the new campaign, with the 30-year-old sidelined for six games with an ankle injury.
After returning against Stoke last month, the forward has since been shone in impressive individual displays against Wrexham and Hull City.
Pompey star hailed despite difficult run
Although Mousinho’s men are in the early-season relegation picture, Elek has sung Murphy’s praise and made it clear the former £11m man has the quality to keep Pompey in the Championship.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Not The Top 20 Podcast, he said: ‘Surely one of the assists from the season, one of the best bits of wing play you will ever see at this level or any level from Josh Murphy, who got on the ball on the left-hand side, stood up Coyle and ghosted past him before delivering this left-footed cross.
‘When Murphy hits the ball like that, he hits it with such pace and such bend with such confidence. It’s hit with such conviction.
‘Because he’s so good, he’s got total belief in his ability to cross in that way. Obviously not all come off but having watched a lot of Josh Murphy live, even the ones that don’t come off the way they’re hit they cause panic.
‘I know that Portsmouth at the moment are struggling to find any positives but him being fit and playing and looking as sharp as he is, it’s going to yield points at some stage.
‘He will win points for Portsmouth on his own if he stays fit in the coming weeks because he’s that good.
‘If you think his left foot is good, he’s a brilliantly two-footed player who is such a unique threat going outside then coming inside.
‘Hull were deserved winners at the end, Pompey had a couple of opportunities right at the death to get a point.
‘Pompey fans are very concerned about what’s going on at the moment and trying to find a way to see where the better results and wins are going to come from because at the moment they’re really struggling.’
John Mousinho call made amid tough run of form
Some Blues supporters have already called for a change at the top amid Pompey’s disappointing run of form, which has seen them slide down the table in recent weeks.
But Elek’s co-host Maxwell has pleaded with the Fratton faithful to stay behind Mousinho and give him their full support.
He added: ‘Just turn Pompey fans. Don’t turn. I know, I know, I know.
‘You know that John Mousinho is an amazing manager and you’ve been telling us that for a number of years now. You know he’s a really, really good manager. So don’t turn, just don’t turn. Don’t turn.’