Hat-trick hero backed to add goals to Pompey midfield

Adam May possesses the goal-scoring credentials to add firepower to Pompey's central midfield.

That's the verdict of Mark Kelly after watching the youngster claim a superb hat-trick in last night's 5-1 thumping of Bognor.

May opened the Nyewood Lane scoring in the third minute '“ and completed his treble after 47 minutes.

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Without a first-team goal in 25 appearances, the midfielder demonstrated his goal-scoring credentials for a Pompey XI against the non-league Rocks.

Academy boss Kelly has overseen May's rise through the Fratton Park ranks after arriving at the age of seven.

And he has no doubt the 20-year-old can bring goals into Kenny Jackett's set-up.

Kelly said: '˜Adam's scored hat-tricks before in the youth team.

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'˜He was down at Brighton early yesterday and played a little part in the first-team friendly as well, so had a long day but that was some good quality from him last night.

'˜The first goal especially was very, very good. He's taken the first touch from across him and produced a great finish.

'˜He's turning into the footballer I know he is '“ so we've just got to be patient with him.

'˜Adam was very young when I first saw him. We had a lot of these babies in during the Premier League days.

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'˜They are 10 years in the building and a lot of people don't see them until they are out on the park.

'˜He can open up play, he can build things, he can score goals.

'˜I've seen him score goals from 30 yards, 20 yards, five yards '“  he's got that in his range as well.

'˜He just needs to home in, develop that part of his game and add it to the first team.

'˜Against Bognor he was comfortable.

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'˜He led it, he was neat and tidy, very good, very controlled and used the ball cleverly at times.

'˜He's a good footballer who can score goals.'

Pompey drew 1-1 at Brighton yesterday morning as they began a busy schedule of two matches in a day.

Gareth Evans was missing from Jackett's squad for that encounter, although featured at Nyewood Lane.

Kelly added: '˜Gaz has not been very well and is coming back from a bit of an illness.

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'˜Last night was great for him. You've seen how much work we got out of him. It was really, really good.

'˜And Christian (Burgess) again applied himself very, very well. It's good to get minutes under his belt.

'˜Luke McGee was another. All the pros approached it the right way and did the right things.'Â