Credit: Portsmouth FC

Pompey News Speaking to Ian Darke

Wed 26 February 2025 6:00, UK

Portsmouth made eight signings in all during the winter transfer window, with many agreeing that the squad had emerged stronger from the January market.

Among them was deadline-day recruit from Liverpool Kaide Gordon, who has been borrowed from Anfield until the end of the campaign having so far made seven senior appearances for the Reds, scoring once.

Arriving with a fan expectation of raw talent which could be sprung upon Championship opponents for the remainder of the season, Gordon is still awaiting a proper opportunity from John Mousinho.

Gordon has contended with ‘several issues’ says Darke

So far, since Gordon has arrived, he has appeared for just nine minutes in a Portsmouth shirt.

While it remains early days in his loan stint, the winger will be eager to show what he can do, but is behind Pompey’s two most in-form operators in Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie – while fellow new boy Adil Aouchiche was preferred to replace Callum Lang in the attacking midfield role against QPR on Saturday (22 February).

TV commentator and Blues fan Ian Darke, exclusively speaking to Pompey News, is defiant of Gordon’s talent but admitted the 20-year-old has had to contend with “issues”.

Darke also compared Gordon to fellow Portsmouth youngster Harvey Blair, who has also come in from Liverpool to limited first-team chances but on a permanent deal.

“I know a little bit about Gordon. He was regarded very highly at Liverpool at an earlier point but he’s had several issues to stop him developing as I understand it,” he said.

“It led to him going to Norwich and now to Pompey. He’s a bit like Harvey Blair, in that he’s got a lot of ability but not had many opportunities.

“He’ll likely get some chances off the bench at some stage but he’ll have to force his way into the side with some stunning cameos, really.”

Portsmouth have youngsters waiting in the wings

Portsmouth may have the worst injury record in the Championship at present, but also have players on the sideline awaiting their opportunity.

Aouchiche was one of them and was the obvious replacement for Lang at the weekend, while Hayden Matthews has taken to Championship football well since his arrival from Australia.

Gordon, Blair and several others have been deprived of action this season but that cannot really be put solely at Mousinho’s door – he has to find a formula to stay in the Championship and hardened pros like Murphy and Ritchie bring far more of a guarantee.

Former Derby County academy product Gordon – who scored once in 10 league outings on loan at Norwich City – appeared briefly in the defeat at Sheffield United last month, but has since remained an unused substitute.

He will hope for Saturday’s visit to Luton Town (1 March) as the day his Pompey career entered an entirely more fruitful chapter.