Target set for next season from Portsmouth dressing room after powerful charge to Championship safety

Adrian Segecic has targeted a Pompey play-off push for the 2026-27 season.

And the Blues’ hat-trick hero believes his side have shown their potential for Championship growth across a powerful finale to the campaign.

Segecic stepped up with is maiden hat-trick in English football, as John Mousinho’s men delivered a 3-1 success at Stoke City on the final away trip of the term.

That means it’s four wins from five for Pompey and 12 points from a possible 15, as they equalled their 54-point total from last season with a game to go.

It’s form that Segecic is convinced his side can carry over into next season, with the Croatia under-21 international’s view they can mount a concerted bid for a top-six finish.

He said: ‘I feel like the last month the boys have been unbelievable in pressure games against top teams.

‘Now it’s about us showing that consistency moving forward and proving we can do that across longer periods of the season.

‘I definitely think we have the quality to be pushing for the play-offs and be a better side pushing up the table. I feel like that’s something we can push towards next season.’

Segecic’s Stoke triple salvo continues outstanding form on his return to the Pompey fray, with the Sydney FC signing bagging four goals and three assists in five games.

It’s a significant turnaround for the attacker after a costly mistake in the defeat to Hull City at the end of February, which preceded a spell out of the side for Segecic.

He added: ‘I’ve gone through so much at such a young age.

‘There’s been that experience of battling relegation and there’s been pressure moments.

‘There’s been mistakes, so to come back into the team after that mistake and get the three assists which pretty much saved us from going down, I just think that’s me showing character.

‘No matter what happens, if you make mistakes you have to keep going.

‘You have to keep backing yourself and believe in yourself, no matter what mistakes you make.

‘I always say I believe in myself and my quality will shine through. If I keep working hard and keep my head down everything comes.

‘After the Hull game I just had to dust myself off.

‘In one game you score and then in the next game you make a mistake and you’re the worst player. That’s how it works in football.

‘I just think being mentally strong at a young age has got me where I am today.

‘It’s a massive learning curve for me to get this experience at such a young age - now I just want to push on.’