Mental strength of Portsmouth hero applauded after coming through dark Fratton Park days
The former Brisbane Roar man has made 14 appearances since joining the Blues in January 2025
It has been 21 months since Thomas Waddingham last scored competitively for Pompey.
Now the Australian is a Millwall match winner - and Adrian Segecic has lifted the lid on his team-mate’s remarkable mental strength which dragged him back from gloomy days.
Not since January 2025 when netting on his debut at West Brom, had Waddingham written his name on the scoresheet for the Blues, with progress having subsequently been devastated by injury.
Millwall represented the former Brisbane Roar man’s 14th outing for Pompey - and Segecic is delighted to see his close friend back among the goals.
‘Mentally he’s been really strong’
He told The News: ‘That’s massive for Wadds. Obviously he’s had his tough times, so for him to come back and get such a vital goal, that will definitely help with his confidence. I’m so pleased for him.
‘It has been so tough, coming in and being injured - and then coming straight back and another set-back. It has been so hard for him, but mentally he’s been really strong and is such a good kid, I am so happy for him.
‘All the boys have got around him, not just me, giving him positivity, but he is so mentally strong. He's such a good player and can come off the bench and get us the three points.
‘Wadds has goals in him and has that difference to come on and change the game as well. He’s a different type of player we can bring on compared to Marko and Colby, it’s so good to have him in the squad.
‘He brings more like the forward runs, he’s more of a runner, but he can still do the pin up. I just feel like he needs games under his belt to get a bit of confidence and his momentum going.’
Three wins in four matches
Waddingham had been introduced for the ineffective Marko Milovanovic in the 71st minute with the scoreline poised at 1-1.
Then, eight minutes from time, Jake Cooper’s clearance ricocheted off the striker’s foot to fortuitously find the back of the net to secure victory.
And a third win in four unbeaten matches has lifted the Blues into 11th place in the Championship as their encouraging progress continues.
Segecic added: ‘That’s every single player when not in the squad coming on, making a difference, you can see the positivity and the way we are trying to play,
‘Even after the mistake in the first half, the way we reacted, we just kept playing our way. I think it’s the first game all season where we’ve had to dig in when it hasn’t been a neat and tidy match. We can show both sides.’