View: Tom McIntyre can make a difference at Portsmouth next season amid recent claim
Tom McIntyre will be keen to kickstart his Portsmouth career in the EFL Championship next season.
McIntyre has thus far managed just 54 minutes of football for Pompey.
As a result, it would have been easy for supporters at Fratton Park to forget all about him. However, recent claims made by the defender demonstrate that he is ready to make an impact next season.
McIntyre arrived at Portsmouth from Reading in January. However, disaster struck for the 25-year-old just 54 minutes into his debut for the club during a 4-1 win over Northampton at Fratton Park (3 February).
The centre-back broke his ankle after Mitch Pinnock’s second-half tackle and was somehow on the receiving end of a red card in the aftermath of the incident.
That red card would be rescinded on appeal, and McIntyre has now spoken out about the injury, telling The News (24 July), “That’s life isn’t it, you tend to find that a lot with your football career.
“There are so many highs and lows, but you have to try to do as best as you can to keep level.
“It’s part and parcel of playing football and hasn’t affected me, I would never duck out of a challenge – and I can’t wait for the Championship again.”
Tom McIntyre ready for life in the Championship with Portsmouth
McIntyre has thus far partnered Conor Shaughnessy twice in the centre of the Blues’ defence during pre-season as he steps up his recovery from injury.
And he will almost feel like a fifth summer signing for John Mousinho, given how little chance McIntyre has had to work with the club since arriving in Portsmouth.
Up until his horror injury, the ex-Scotland Under-21 international had looked relatively solid on his debut.
As per Sofascore, McIntyre made two clearances and won two of his three ground duels and one aerial duel. In addition, he had completed 82 per cent of his passes and played one accurate long ball forward.
And it is worth remembering that this is a player with plenty of Championship experience, with McIntyre having played 95 times in the competition.
That could come as a big boost for Mousinho, who has a quality defensive option in the ex-Reading man.
His time in the Championship previously demonstrates that he can play at that level while operating as a forward-thinking defender.
During the 2022/23 season, McIntyre created 13 chances and completed 12 successful dribbles, placing him in the top 14 per cent of his positional peers when it comes to both of those statistics (FotMob).
In addition, he is no slouch defensively, winning 174 duels and making 192 recoveries while playing in England’s second tier.
He will have a lot to prove next season and could end up being the surprise package for Portsmouth.
In other Portsmouth news, one player has been backed to shine at Fratton Park should he be signed up.
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