Exclusive:'I want a different type': Portsmouth boss on why his newest international has no Blues future on the wing

Croatia appear to prefer Adrian Segecic as a winger, judging by his latest under-21s outing.

Nonetheless, John Mousinho is adamant the former Sydney FC man will no longer be employed wide in Pompey colours.

According to the Blues’ head coach, the 22-year-old is best suited as a number 10 - and he has every intention of continuing to play him in the role domestically.

Of his 25 starts for Pompey last season, 15 of them were on the right wing, including a classy hat-trick at Stoke in the penultimate match during a strong finish to his maiden English campaign.

This term, however, Segecic has been ever-present in the number 10 role in the Championship - and Mousinho is convinced that’s where he will remain.

‘I have been pretty clear over the past few years’

He told The News: ‘I see Segs as a number 10, that’s his best position.

‘I want a different type of player on the wing, which I have been pretty clear with over the past few years.

‘Segs still has that capability to play across the front line, but I think he fits in well in those central areas where he can get his shots off.

‘This season he’s provided us with that firepower up front with the goals. I thought he was excellent in particular against Cardiff, the way he took the assist, the way he led the line, he was relentless in terms of his work-rate and his pressing.

‘Segs is a really valuable member of the team and we will see more and more of him as the season goes on.’

Featured for 70 minutes in 2027 European Championship qualifier

Segecic played on the left wing in Croatia Under-21’s 3-1 victory over Hungary on Saturday evening.

Representing his third international outing, he was replaced by Domagoj Bukvic in the 70th minute, with his team leading 2-1 in the 2027 European Championship qualifier.

Former Pompey summer target Mate Tuboly had scored a 50th-minute penalty for Hungary to level at 1-1, yet Croatia ran out winners through an Adriano Jagusic hat-trick.

That result, watched by a 857 crowd, leaves them topping Group H by four points ahead of second-placed Turkey Under-21s, with forthcoming games against Ukraine (October 2) and Lithuania (October 6).

Meanwhile, Mousinho believes there are aspects of Segecic’s game he needs to build on, irrespective of the attacker continuing to flourish at Fratton Park with two goals in eight matches so far this season.

Pompey’s head coach added: ‘The big thing for me with Segs is just making the right decisions at the right time at the top end of the pitch.

‘We want a player who wants to take a lot of shots, we want a player who is really hungry for goals. When we’ve probably seen Segs at his best, he makes those decisions at the right time.

‘Cardiff was a really good example of that where he probably had one of his best performances of the season.’

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