'I don't know myself' - Toby Steward to learn what immediate Portsmouth future looks like after St Johnstone success
Toby Steward is poised to return to Pompey after a hugely successful loan stint at Scottish Championship winners St Johnstone - but is uncertain what role has been earmarked for him next season
Toby Steward remains in the dark about what his immediate Pompey future looks like.
And it’s likely the young keeper will have to wait until the beginning of pre-season to learn what role he’ll be given, if any, for the Blues’ third consecutive season in the Championship.
The highly-regarded academy graduate is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Fratton Park outfit. Instead, he’s been picking up valuable senior experience elsewhere, including Crawley Town at the end of the 2024-25 season, and Scottish Championship side St Johnstone this term.
And he’s been impressing as he goes along, with Steward an ever-present in the Saints’ league title-winning side that will return to the Scottish Premiership in 2026-27.
The foundations for Simo Valakari’s side’s promotion was the 19 clean sheets the 21-year-old kept at McDiarmind Park. He’ll set a league record if another is kept during St Johnstone’s last game of the campaign against Ayr on Friday night.
That will signal the end of his season-long stay north of the border. But with uncertainty surrounding what his return to PO4 looks like, despite the stopper signing a new contract, Steward admitted he’d be open to heading back Saints on loan if circumstances allow.
Steward: So many things could come up
When asked by The Courier whether he’ll be back at McDiarmid Park, Steward said: ‘You never know. I will have conversations with Pompey and the goalkeeping coach there at the start of pre-season.
‘So many things could come up that you can’t tell what’s going to happen next season. I don’t know myself yet.
‘I can’t answer it. What I can say is I love this place, I love the club and I would love to play in the Premiership next season. So, we’ll just have to see.
‘I genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen.’
What lies in wait for Steward on his Pompey return?
Pompey went into this season with four senior goalkeepers on their books - Nico Schmid, Josef Bursik, Tom Killip and Jordan Archer.
However, only first-choice Schmid, Bursik and Killip were included in the Blues’ official 25-man squad. Archer - who is likely to leave upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season - was omitted and unable to play for John Mousinho’s side at any point.
Mousinho has admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Killip requested to leave this summer in search of more regular game time. His appearance against Stoke on Saturday was just his third Championship outing of the season and only arrived after Bursuk - who was handed a rare start as Schmid was rested - injured his quad after four minutes and had to be subsituted.
Austrian Schmid has been the Blues No1 since he deposed former Pompey keeper Will Norris in October 2024. Yet his form this season has raised eyebrows on numerous occasions, including last week when he made a number of costly errors in the Blues’ 5-1 thumping at the hands of champions Coventry City.
As a result, Busik, who has made 11 appearances following his move from Brugge last summer, will feel disappointed he hasn’t been given more of a chance to establish himself as the Blues’ first-choice.
With all that in mind, Steward will have serious competition ahead of him if he is to finally make the breakthrough at Fratton Park next season.
There’ll be few who’ll doubt whether he can challenge for that No1 spot next term. But if he’s not handed the gloves on a full-time basis next summer and Schmid returns to the levels expected of him, the Blues run the risk of stumping the unbelievable progress Steward has made over the past 12 months.
A big decision for Mousinho & Co lies in wait.
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