‘Top of the shopping list’: Portsmouth title-winner details key position Blues MUST strengthen this summer
The transfer window is less than two weeks away and Gareth Evans has highlighted one area Pompey MUST strengthen this summer.
Gareth Evans is adamant a new number nine has to be top of Pompey’s transfer shopping list this summer.
And the former Fratton favourite believes Josh Murphy’s injury absence was partially to blame for Colby Bishop’s drop in form.
It was a frustrating campaign in front of goal for John Mousinho’s frontline, who were the sixth lowest scorers in the Championship last term.
Bishop endured the worst goalscoring season of his Fratton Park career to date, netting just four goals in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Makenzie Kirk appeared on the scoresheet just once in his 14 Championship outings, while Thomas Waddingham battled significant injury issues, restricting him to just seven appearances.
And Evans, who netted 38 goals during his five-year stay on the south coast, is adamant a new number nine should be a priority in the window.
The position Pompey must strengthen this summer
‘They need a striker. I would say at least one, maybe even two.
‘Maybe not necessarily to replace Colby (Bishop) but to compete with Colby, offer another dimension.
‘I feel like Pompey at times could definitely benefit from more of a physical presence, sort of a 6’3 or 6’4 player that’s going to bring other players into play and be a point of reference and a focal point for the attack.
‘You’ve also got the dimension of helping out set-pieces in an attacking sense and a defensive sense.
‘They need something different to Colby, maybe even someone that is an absolute speedboat that can run in behind, run the channels, stretch teams and create more space in the middle of the park.
‘I’m not saying in any sense that Colby should be replaced but they need someone in the attacking department and it should be top of the shopping list for me.
‘All of a sudden, Callum Lang moves on to Preston, Josh Murphy’s out injured, Colby scored three league goals, Segecic did well with 11 and your second top scorer is Terry Devlin at right-back.
‘The source of goals just hasn’t been there for whatever reason. They really do need to address that situation and bring in a bit more firepower.’
Josh Murphy’s absence had huge impact on Colby Bishop
Murphy proved a huge source of goals during his maiden campaign on the south coast, with the 31-year-old forming a deadly partnership with Bishop.
And Evans believes Murphy’s absence was partly to blame for Bishop’s struggles in front of goal last term.
‘One of the reasons for that is in terms of Josh Murphy being absent for a long period of time. That didn’t help because he's a good source of assists for Colby Bishop.
‘I felt sorry for him at times because he has quite clearly got the pedigree to score goals in the Championship, I just think he’s had the competition there for whatever reason.
‘I know they are gold dust strikers but I just feel like Pompey needed another dimension that was going to compete with Colby.
‘I felt sorry for him. He looked like a frustrated loan figure sometimes.
‘He’s looked shattered, sometimes he’s looked fatigued but I just don't think the manager felt like he had the competition waiting in the wings to come on and supplement him and help him out with some energy.
‘It’s been a frustrating season for him but it’s not to say he won’t bounce back and use it to improve next season.’