View: John Mousinho should hand Abdoulaye Kamara first Portsmouth start v Burnley
John Mousinho should consider handing Abdoulaye Kamara his first Portsmouth start against Burnley at Turf Moor (21 September).
It has been an incredibly tough start to the season for Pompey.
They have already had to take on EFL Championship heavyweights such as West Brom, Leeds United and Sunderland all within their first five matches.
And things don’t get any easier for Mousinho’s side as they prepare for back-to-back clashes against Burnley and Sheffield United, two teams relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Light Blues are without a competitive victory in almost five months and supporters at Fratton Park will be keen to see their side pick up their first Championship win.
That might be tricky against the Clarets, who sit fourth in the table. However, Mousinho will believe, and if he wants to fulfil that belief, he should consider making some changes.
He has stuck by more or less the same team since day one in the Championship, and making a few switches could prove useful.
If he is to do that, one of those changes has to be introducing Kamara.
Kamara has made just two appearances for Mousinho’s side since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
However, he has impressed in both of those cameos and now might be the time for Mousinho to hand the midfielder his first start for the club.
John Mousinho to hand Abdoulaye Kamara a start for Portsmouth v Burnley?
Kamara made his Portsmouth debut off the bench in the 60th minute of the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland at Fratton Park (31 August). That afternoon he completed 100 per cent of his passes and dribbles and won one ground duel (Sofascore).
He was once again handed minutes off the bench in the 3-0 home defeat to West Brom on Sunday (15 September).
On this occasion, Kamara was introduced in the 61st minute and completed 87 per cent of his dribbles while 100 per cent of the long balls he played were accurate.
In addition, he won two ground duels, made two tackles and blocked one shot.
Portsmouth’s main issue has been leaking goals, with the club conceding eight times in their past three games and Will Norris preventing more with his “sensational” play (Dave Edwards on Sky Sports Football, 15 September, 3:49 pm).
On both occasions that he has played, Kamara has been introduced as Andre Dozzell has been hooked, with the latter someone who hasn’t offered much defensive stability in midfield.
Against the Baggies, the 25-year-old lost both of his ground duels and gave possession away seven times, while failing to register a single tackle or interception.
Meanwhile, against Sunderland, Dozzell lost his one aerial duel and didn’t contest a single ground duel.
The match at Turf Moor will be tough, and Mousinho could therefore benefit from a more defensive presence in midfield like Kamara rather than Dozzell.
In other Portsmouth news, the club have been dealt a massive blow with one player set to miss six-plus months.
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