Hayden Matthews reveals what he has seen Portsmouth fans say about him already
Hayden Matthews has reflected on his rollercoaster year, which saw him move from Australia to sign for Portsmouth halfway through the season.
Matthews transferred from Sydney FC in January and was thrust into the first team within days of his signing.
He made six appearances before being ruled out for the season with an ankle injury. Thankfully, the Blues were able to secure Championship survival without him.
Matthews discusses feedback from Pompey fans
Now, in an appearance on the United by Football podcast, Matthews revealed that he can’t help but read some of what Portsmouth fans are saying about him on social media.
He said: “From what I’ve seen, the overarching theme has been pretty positive towards me. The reception has been quite good.
“When I first joined, I saw a couple of ones that said ‘Who’s this kid?’. I completely understand the scepticism, and I think, me personally, you just can’t take it to heart.”
The young defender has adapted well to life in Portsmouth and was playing well before his ankle injury. Earlier this year, he was listed among the world’s top 50 wonderkids by World Soccer Magazine, which outlines his potential.
During the podcast, he was keen to mention how impressed he was with the matchday atmosphere at Fratton Park.
He said: “Pompey fans, these guys are different. Honestly, next level. Every single person in Portsmouth is a Pompey fan, and they love the club.
“It properly echoes throughout the whole stadium. Everyone in the stadium is singing for pretty much 90 minutes. It is really loud in there.
“Pompey fans are known for being one of the best, and that’s one of the things I was told when I went over there. I went over there expecting a lot, and it still managed to exceed my expectations.”
Matthews was offered a four-and-a-half-year deal by Portsmouth, so he has plenty of time to make an impact at Fratton Park.
He’s recovering well from his ankle injury and is expected to be available for selection when the new Championship season starts in August.
Matthews will be given opportunities to prove himself
Matthews will be disappointed that his 2024-25 campaign was cut short by injury, but he should be given plenty of opportunities to shine next season.
In John Mousinho, he has a manager known for trusting and developing young talent. Pompey clearly rate him highly, having signed him for £1.25million and offered a long-term contract.
| Hayden Matthews Portsmouth statistics 2024-25 | |
| Appearances | 6 |
| Minutes played | 315 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
Transitioning from the Australian A-League to the Championship is no easy feat, but Matthews has handled the step up with maturity beyond his years.
With Conor Shaughnessy, Regan Poole and potentially Rob Atkinson competing for a place in the Pompey defence, Matthews will have to fight for minutes.
Still, the youngster can learn a lot from his older teammates and develop into an even stronger player during his time at Fratton Park.
The future certainly looks bright for the Aussie, and he’ll surely be buzzing for the new season to start.