The Portsmouth man with extra motivation to make mark against Sheffield United amid mixed messages
Eight weeks ago he was lining up in the colours of this weekend’s opponents, as he looked set to earn himself a future with the relegated Premier League side.
Now, this weekend, Andre Dozzell is ready to take on Sheffield United in royal blue, as he plots a maiden Championship win for his employers against the unbeaten Blades.
It looked like the midfielder’s career was set to tread a very different path, as he linked up with Chris Wilder’s side in pre-season after his summer release from QPR.
But it was Pompey where the former Ipswich is now being given the chance to fulfil what his current manager has billed as ‘Premier League potential’.
As is often the case, there are a few discrepancies around the journey which wound up with the player signing a 12-month deal at PO4.
Dozzell featured in warm-up games for Chris Wilder’s side this summer, with his last outing a 45-minute appearance in a 2-1 success at Rotherham on July 27.
Wilder had indicated the 25-year-old was a player he was keen on back then, saying: ‘He knits it together in the middle of the park and is a very technical player. He's had a career really based in the Championship so he's one that we're talking about. We wouldn't bring players in just to fill in slots for pre-season.’
The Rotherham game was to be the last time he featured, however, with the suggestion in South Yorkshire the Sheffield United management wanted the player but a decision was made not to offer him a deal.
Pompey then made their move with Dozzell signing a little over week after the Millers game, and Mousinho stating he did so over the chance to play for this weekend’s opponents.
Mousinho said: ‘It all happened really quickly. We’d been monitoring Andre, but after the successful trial he’d had at Sheffield United and playing a couple of games, we thought going up there was going to be an option for him.
‘I don’t want to go into detail too much, but Sheffield United was an option so we’re really pleased that Andre chose to come down here over that.’
Dozzell himself was then able to give his perspective on summer events a few weeks after signing, when he spoke to The News. He felt ongoing takeover issues at Sheffield United were a factor, but once he’d met with Mousinho his pathway was clear.
He said: ‘I enjoyed it there (at Sheffield United), because the gaffer obviously wanted me there and invited me in to train and play games for a couple of weeks.
‘But they are in the middle of a takeover, so things then became complicated.
‘So after speaking to the gaffer here, I felt that I couldn’t wait any longer really because it was getting closer to the start of the season. I didn’t really need to wait though anyway, after speaking to the gaffer here I already had my mind made up really.
‘Exactly (Mousinho made him feel part of things), I’m 25 now and it’s very important for me to kick on now. I feel like I’ve got a lot of experience in the Championship now, so coming here I feel I can help short term but I’m here to play games and do my best.’
Now Dozzell awaits his chance to make his mark this weekend. He does so after appearing in all of Pompey’s seven fixtures to date, though his run of consecutive league starts came to a close at Burnley last weekend as Brad Potts was favoured.