‘One of the worst things of my career’: The Birmingham City pain Keshi Anderson is hoping to avoid at Portsmouth
Former Birmingham City winger Keshi Anderson became the third new January arrival at Fratton Park this month.
Keshi Anderson has made it clear he never wants to experience relegation again after suffering one of the worst moments of his career.
And the new Pompey signing has highlighted the exciting qualities he can bring to John Mousinho’s side.
The 30-year-old became the third new arrival on the south coast this month as the Blues’ recruitment drive ramps up.
His switch to Fratton park comes just a week after his ‘hit-and-miss’ two-and-a-half-year stay with Birmingham came to a close, which saw him feature 92 times at St Andrews.
During his first campaign in the West Midlands, the Blues suffered relegation to League One, with the forward admitting it remains ‘the worst’ feeling of his career to date.
Keshi Anderson describes Birmingham pain after Pompey move
And it’s something he is adamant he doesn’t want to replicate this season with his new club.
Speaking in an interview with Pompey’s in-house media, he said: ‘Very good, very excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead. It came about as soon as I was available really.
‘They put in an enquiry and obviously at the time I was still a Birmingham player. Once I was able to free myself up, it was luckily done quite quickly in the sense that it’s been a week or so and I’m here and ready.
‘I had a phone call with the gaffer. He asked me questions and gave me insight into what he wants and what the club wants itself.
I fired back my own questions in terms of the progression and the steps the club want to make and they align with myself.
‘I think Portsmouth being the club it is, the history of the Premier League back in the day and wanting establishing themself again as a big club by staging the in the Championship and progressing is something I want to be a part of.
‘It was hit and miss (time with Birmingham). It was something that initially started off very well, that ended in the worst way with relegation - something I never want to feel again. One of the worst things of my career.
‘But last year being the season that it was in League One, record breakers, it gives you that drive, that hunger and you just want to succeed.
‘That’s something that's always been with me to succeed in football and succeed in whichever team I play for. Going into this season, that was the aim and still is the aim albeit with a different team in blue.’
Anderson has a wealth of Championship experience, having featured for Blackpool and Birmingham City at second-tier level.
And that in-depth knowledge is something the winger is hoping he can bring to Mousinho’s side as they look to avoid relegation this term.
What Pompey can expect from Keshi Anderson
‘I like to think I bring a lot of experience, I’ve played in the Championship.
‘I like to think I bring a certain type of flair in the attacking phase, I like to take on men, I like to get crosses into the box, I like to score goals and I also like to dictate play a little bit.
‘The last few seasons have been a bit more structured so I haven’t been the type of player that I was and seen as the type of player.
‘When I think of myself and when my team-mates actually see me on a day-to-today basis, they see me as a different type of player to what an outside perspective would see.
‘Which is good because essentially they’ll never know what they (opposition) are going to get until they’re up against me. You see the high IQ on the pitch in terms of the runs I make, the passes that I like to pick out and be one step ahead.’
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