John Mousinho should give one of his summer signings a rare start against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues know a win will seal promotion back to the Championship and end their 12-year stint in England’s bottom two divisions.
Pompey laboured to a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town last Saturday. Performance levels must improve significantly to seal promotion at the Toughsheet Stadium.
Ian Evatt’s men are in dire need of a win to keep their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive. The Trotters are currently one point adrift of Derby County and will likely have to win all of their remaining fixtures to snatch second spot.
Due to the enormity of the fixture, Mousinho will have several selection headaches to contend with.
Should John Mousinho hand Gavin Whyte a rare Portsmouth start?
Gavin Whyte, for the most part, has endured a tough season on the South Coast after joining on a free transfer last summer.
Yet, an eye-catching performance against Peterborough United – including a vital assist – has seen the Fratton Faithful warm to the former Cardiff City winger.
A string of neat substitute appearances have followed, and now Mousinho should consider Whyte ahead of the trip to Horwich.
Paddy Lane has looked tired and in need of rest of late, and looking to deploy the Northern Irishman from the bench against Bolton could be an option.
Whyte could come into the starting XI on either flank, with Abu Kamara capable of operating across the top end of the pitch.
Gavin Whyte finally shows Portsmouth worth under John Mousinho
Spending time away from his family, coupled with the expectation at Fratton Park, has clearly taken its toll on Whyte. But now Pompey fans are finally starting to see the best of him.
Perhaps the 28-year-old being tipped as Pompey’s ‘marquee’ signing didn’t help too much. Mousinho told The News back in August 2023: “He had an outstanding first season when he came over to Oxford from Northern Ireland and went to Cardiff off the back of that.
“Gavin is a pacy and direct winger, who can carry the ball and is someone who really catches the eye when he’s on the pitch. He’s someone that we believe will really excite everybody at Fratton Park and be an excellent addition to our side.”
Finally, the Pompey boss’ faith in his former teammate is beginning to be rewarded, and perhaps he could be the man to confirm the Blues’ place back in the Championship.