Colby Bishop ‘on his way to new level’ after confirmed Portsmouth news
Portsmouth are edging towards a comfortable end to the season, though it is far from over just yet.
However, in the face of the ruthless adversity of a lengthy injury list, John Mousinho has done exceptionally well to steer his side towards the safety of mid-table – largely by excelling in home fixtures.
One man who spent a considerable amount of time on the sidelines at the start of the campaign was of course Colby Bishop, who returned emotionally in November having recovered to appear in a Portsmouth shirt just 12 weeks after major heart surgery.
Colby Bishop and Portsmouth make announcement
Bishop, 28, has adjusted fairly well to Championship football, undoubtedly deserving a crack at the second tier having smashed the 20-goal barrier in each of the past two League One seasons.
Considering the traumatic summer he and his young family had to endure, coupled with the uphill battle to return to the pitch for Portsmouth, the Fratton frontman has once again become an integral part of Mousinho’s setup.
His fitness has been impeccable given what he has been through, and he is adding goals – albeit not quite as often as in League One which is to be entirely expected.
After talk regarding his future – which included his confession he would happily stay on the South Coast for the rest of his career – Bishop signed a new three-year contract at Portsmouth this week.
It comes as huge news for the player, his head coach and the supporters at Pompey, who adore him as much as he loves playing in the blue shirt.
It appears Bishop is appreciating his time at a club where he is a first-choice Championship striker, for supporters who by and large believe he can be a huge hit at this level in time.
| POS | Portsmouth all-time top goalscorers | GOALS |
| 6 | Ronan Curtis | 57 |
| 7 | COLBY BISHOP | 50 |
| 8 | Ike Clarke | 50 |
| 9 | Len Phillips | 47 |
| 10 | Lee Bradbury | 45 |
| 11 | Yakubu | 42 |
| 12 | Brett Pitman | 42 |
Bishop can become top Championship striker
Bishop has adjusted to Championship football better than many strikers before him who have succeeded in the lower reaches of the EFL, even without the added handicap.
Portsmouth fans also see beyond just the goals – of which he has five this season – when analysing his play each week. He is comfortably first-choice for a reason, adding excellent link-up play and a creative nous.
This is why he can go on to excel for years as a Championship player and run his career trajectory in a parallel pattern to Portsmouth establishing themselves as a second-tier outfit for a sustained period.
It has been witnessed with strikers before, who have struggled early on in their Championship careers far more than Bishop has to then become dominant forces in the division, the likes of Kieffer Moore at Sheffield United a prime example.
During his first opportunity in the division with Ipswich Town, Moore failed to score all season in 2016-17. He then hit just four in 20 for Barnsley the following year. Three seasons later, the Welsh international frontman scored 20 league goals for Cardiff City.
Bishop has the full capability now he is up to speed, and it’s excellent that he recognises Fratton Park is the place to fulfil his potential as much as Pompey need their number nine.