Portsmouth quartet acknowledged with PFA achievement after champion charge
Portsmouth have had four players named in the PFA League One Team of the Year following last season’s heroics.
As reported on the club’s official website [20 August], Pompey’s triumph to the title and subsequent promotion to this season’s Championship saw the PFA name a blue spine throughout the XI.
Goalkeeper Will Norris is included after keeping 19 clean sheets; Conor Shaughnessy is named with his near ever-present solid defending and memorable promotion-clinching goal.
Marlon Pack was one of the stories of the campaign, leading his boyhood club at long last out of the third tier, whilst Colby Bishop’s second successive 20+ goal tally secured himself a place.
Portsmouth heroes celebrated again
As much as it’s all geared towards the future now, another sprinkling reminder of how Pompey got there is always welcome.
Pack and Bishop were also nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award in League One, but lost out to Alfie May, who joined Birmingham City from Charlton Athletic this summer – and was the only man to outscore the Blues’ number nine.
It’s integral that John Mousinho was able to incorporate the key players from last season into the Championship side, aside from Bishop who continues his rehabilitation programme after heart surgery.
New recruits have added crucial Championship pedigree to the squad, who are so far unbeaten in the league at this early stage – albeit with two draws.
The fixtures do not get any easier, but Pompey have so far relished the challenge and a trip to Middlesbrough will be followed up by the hosting of Sunderland before the first international break.
In other Portsmouth news, sources have linked the club with a former Leeds United defender.
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