Portsmouth defence will improve overnight if new recruit Atkinson stays fit
Portsmouth fans were encouraged by a positive debut from new loanee Rob Atkinson on Sunday against Sunderland, with a potential breakthrough at the back.
Atkinson, a former teammate of John Mousinho’s from their Oxford United days, was signed within the first days of the January transfer window on a temporary deal from Bristol City.
The towering centre-half came on in the second half at 1-0 down at the Stadium of Light, following the red card issued to covering defender Marlon Pack for a professional last-man foul.
With a block on the line to prevent a certain goal, Atkinson – playing for the first time in two years – maintained his positional nous and looked a commanding, calming presence in the backline.
Rob Atkinson could answer Portsmouth prayers
Mousinho has struggled through trial and error to attempt to find his strongest central defensive pairing, with Conor Shaughnessy and Regan Poole suffering with injuries, Ibane Bowat out for the season without even a debut, and Tom McIntyre and Ryley Towler having been heavily rotated in and out.
At present, Towler is partnering Pack – though this partnership has had mixed effect and will be split up for the Wycombe Wanderers tie in the FA Cup this Friday (10 January), as the captain serves a one-match suspension.
It is likely Atkinson will slot in alongside Towler for his first start unless Mousinho rotates, with McIntyre also fit but having struggled in his most recent outings.
There could well be changes made for the cup clash at Adams Park, which is evenly balanced considering Wycombe are just five league places below the Blues in the EFL pyramid.
But the fingers are firmly crossed throughout Portsmouth that Atkinson can rekindle his sustained fitness and play a huge part in keeping the Blues above the waterline of the Championship.
In other Portsmouth news, Asmir Begovic has launched a new youth football project in the local area.
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