It’s a stacked centre-back department, but Socceroos man Hayden Matthews has clear aims - and they don’t include leaving Fratton Park anytime soon.

Hayden Matthews is focussed firmly on a Pompey future and a ‘very big’ Championship season at Fratton Park.

The £1.25m defender is targeting a place in John Mousinho’s set-up next term and forcing his way to the front of the Blues’ defensive pecking order.

And Matthews has made it clear seeking any playing time away from Fratton Park is the last thing on his mind, as he competes in a stacked centre-back department.

The 22-year-old was back in action at Woking last night, after the second half of last season was decimated by an ankle injury picked up at Bristol City on New Year’s Day.

Matthews got 45 minutes under his belt in Surrey, with the Aussie’s plan to build momentum ahead of the Championship curtain-raiser against QPR next month.

That means any kind of Fratton exit is nowhere on the Sydney talent’s radar at present.

Matthews said: ‘My mind’s 100 per cent solely focussed on Portsmouth.

‘As far as I’m aware there’s been nothing (talk about a loan move for game time), so my mind is fully focussed on Portsmouth.

‘Every day we’re pushing each other to be better. We’ve got some very good centre-halves and a lot of competitiveness in training.

‘I think that makes me a better player and pushes everyone else as well.

‘I’ve had my first full season that I’ve been here for now and I’ve been involved in the squad. Yes, I’ve had the injury but I’ve got that under my belt, now I feel that this could be a very big season for me.’

Matthews’ ankle issue last season followed on from surgery curtailing his first term at PO4, when suffering ankle ligament damage against QPR in February 2025.

There was also an issue this summer which put paid to his hopes of forcing his way in the Socceroos World Cup plans.

The impact nature of those problems creates optimism for the former Sydney FC man there’s less chance of injury recurrences moving forward.

Matthews added: ‘A lot of the injuries have been contact injuries, ones where you feel there’s not a lot you can do about it.

‘There’s been some misfortune, but there’s also things I think I can do to strengthen my ankle.

‘I’ve got to have a look at that and keep doing more work on my ankles, to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

‘Injuries are a part of the game, but it’s about managing them, managing my body and making sure I’m available for the majority of the season, if not all of the season.

‘Pre-season is all about getting minutes and showing what you’re capable of doing.

‘I want to be in the squad for that first game.

‘Everyone is going to be given an equal opportunity to show what they can do, that’s especially important for someone like me that hasn’t had a lot of minutes of late.

‘So it’s about playing, showing what I can do and doing enough to be in the squad.’