Exclusive:‘Not sure yet’: Portsmouth boss’ honest admission over £2.2m attacker as wait for maiden Championship goal continues
The Burton Albion signing has shown his versatility in the Championship since signing at the end of the summer transfer window.
John Mousinho confessed he’s still not sure where Tyrese Shade is best utilised in his Pompey starting line-up.
But the Blues boss underlined his conviction the £2.2m summer arrival has what it takes to make the grade in the Championship, as his bid to get on the goal trail continues.
Mousinho on Shade: ‘I’m not sure yet where he’s best suited’
Shade has now made seven appearances since arriving from Burton Albion on the final day of the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old operated almost exclusively as a striker during his time at the Pirelli Stadium, but has played the majority of his Pompey games so far down the left flank.
Mousinho was looking for that versatility when bringing in the former Eastleigh man, but admitted he’s not totally convinced over where Shade’s best utilised at present.
He said: ‘Tyrese has got a bit of versatility.
‘I’ve used him quite a bit as a wide player. He drifts quite naturally to that left position when he’s playing as a nine.
‘I’m not sure yet where he’s best suited, but I like him in both spots.
‘I think so (playing wide is Mousinho’s idea rather than Shade playing there previously), and I think Tyrese has that versatility as a player who can play as a left winger, nine, 10 and he’d probably be fine on the right.
‘Unfortunately for Tyrese after what I thought was his best game for us away at Southampton, where he constantly got in behind their back line, he picked up a minor injury.
‘So he’s just coming back from that and getting his fitness going.
‘He was unlucky last weekend not to score and had a couple of decent opportunities.
‘The shot he took led to the second goal, so he’s put himself in some good positions and hopefully the ball goes into the back of the net for him soon.’
Shade has yet to open his Pompey goal account, but has certainly looked at threat going forward in his outings to date for Mousinho’s side.
The Blues boss has no doubt the goals will soon be flowing for the Saint Kitts and Nevis international, but feels he will need a period to adapt to the demands of leading the line when playing as a No9 for his side.
Mousinho added: ‘I know he can do it as a nine, definitely.
‘With Tyrese he’s played as a nine at Burton and a lot of time played up as a two.
‘So that’s an adjustment for him, but there’s times when it looks like we’re playing with a two with the nine and the 10.
‘But it was a different combination for him last season playing up top with someone like Jake Beesley.
‘He’s a traditional No9, so Ty could drift a bit more and get himself in good positions.
‘I think it’s just about finding the right balance for Tyrese, getting him used to the way we play and I’m sure he’ll be fine.’