View: Player released by Portsmouth could make club regret call as new-found ability emerges
Former Portsmouth defender Liam Vincent has found his goalscoring feet this season after his summer release, firing six goals in 11 matches for his new side.
The 21-year-old – who never made a first-team outing for the club and was plagued by injury – has scored five of these in the National League South for Tonbridge Angels, as reported by The News’ Neil Allen [7 October].
Having been utilised at wing-back so far this season during his successful run in the team, Vincent has also been tasked with penalty duties, netting three times from the spot.
Vincent has been reunited with former Pompey teammate Toby Steward, who was loaned to the Kent club for the 2024-25 season after signing a new contract at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth forced to bid mass farewell to youngsters
There were several reasons why Portsmouth were forced to cull the majority of their young players over the summer.
Vincent – like Haji Mnoga, Josh Dockerill, Harry Jewitt-White – were young pros to have been sent on their way after years at Fratton Park, Vincent himself having initially arrived from Bromley in 2021.
The full-back could have been a viable back-up option but there is no longer a route for minutes in the EFL Trophy, for which Pompey are now ineligible as a Championship side, and John Mousinho would likely have offered more game time in the competition to these lads.
No fewer than 12 scholars were then all released at the end of their scholarships, which boils down to no Under-21 side in place to act as a professional development bridge between the U18s and the first team.
Some may believe Vincent has merely found his level at Tonbridge, but he still has the lion’s share of his career ahead of him and it might not be such a shock after all if he were to rise back up the leagues in due course. Portsmouth will just hope they do not regret the decision to let him go.
In other Portsmouth news, Dermot Gallagher condemns the racism incident that marred the Oxford United game.
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