Exclusive:‘All-action. Durable. Athletic’: Sheffield Wednesday insider verdict on Portsmouth target Svante Inglesson
Pompey have set their sights on a move for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Inglesson.
Pompey will be getting an all-action Championship-quality midfielder if they land Svante Inglesson.
That’s the view of The Star’s Sheffield Wednesday writer, Alex Miller, who has given a glowing review of the 27-year-old’s time at Hillsborough.
The News confirmed the Blues’ interest in the midfielder on Sunday following reports of a failed first bid for the Swede last Friday.
As John Mousinho’s men chase their fourth January signing, Miller gave an in-depth verdict of what Pompey could expect if, as expected, they seal a deal for Ingelsson. Here’s what the Wednesday reporter told The News.
What has Svante Ingelsson been like during his time at Sheffield Wednesday?
‘Svante is a big, athletic, all-action player. He can play as a six, as an eight or as a wide attacker. Big unit, lots of energy, has been quite popular at Wednesday because he’s one that very visibly gives it everything.
‘He’s played across a lot of positions and has been quite effective depending on what role he’s had to play.
‘They’ve used it latterly as an aerial focal point, which doesn't necessarily suit him but it’s a bit of needs must in the absence of the players that Wednesday have lost, the likes of Michael Smith and Callum Patterson. Svante is in there by process of elimination by being that one big unit in the squad.
‘His best performances have come as an eight and being that box-to-box man. The question marks as to why he isn’t playing at a higher level are around his final product.
‘There have been a number of occasions where it’s just that little bit of quality has let him down a touch just in front of goals or putting in that final pass.
‘As someone that can run the legs off another team and be all action, he’s very suited to the Championship in that role.’
When Pompey played Sheffield Wednesday last week, Ingelsson stood out the most with his attacking threat and defensive aspects. He’s got a good combination of both?
‘He gets around the pitch as well as I’ve seen anyone in a Wednesday shirt.
‘I watched him at Bristol City on Saturday amongst all the Barry Bannan tributes and he was hobbling coming off the pitch, which is always a sign of someone that’s given everything.
‘He’s naturally more left-sided, which is a bit of a commodity in Championship football in terms of offering that balance.
‘He can throw his hands into a number of roles. I think it would benefit him in a different club to really narrow in on one role and give him a good run of games.
‘He’s rarely injured. There’s been a number of times where we’ve heard he’s got a knock or had to take a couple of days off from training and then he’s straight back into the starting line-up on Saturday. He’s very durable.’
Danny Rohl spoke very highly of him last season and the same with Henrik Pedersen this term. Is he very well thought of at Hillsborough?
‘Danny was very, very strong on tactical changes in the second half and it would often be Ingelsson that would be the fall guy for that. I think that's partly due to what you’d see and how he can make a tactical change.
‘Also, Svante was encouraged to just run the legs off for as long as he possibly could. This season in a squad that’s got very few senior players and experienced heads, Svante has played more or less every minute.
‘It would be a big loss for Wednesday and with the right head wind and the defined role, he could be very impressive in any Championship side.’
Pompey have already recruited Ebou Adams, who can play in the holding role. Can Ingelsson work with a more-defensive midfield partner?
‘I think so. He’s got the ability to get around the pitch, he’s physical enough to be in there and take a knock. He’s quite good in those tight spaces as well.
‘If there was one characteristic that wouldn’t be his size or athleticism, he’s got this ability to break out from midfield and get towards the byline on the left-hand side. We’ll see that quite often.
‘At Wednesday that would be the areas Barry Bannan would play in for years, that’s been the most dangerous part of the pitch. He gets in the right places.’