Pompey attacker thrilled with top 10

Now he heads into the new League One season as a chief attacking threat for Pompey and he will don one of the club's most prestigious shirts.

Speaking in the 40-page pre-season special edition of the Sports Mail, which is out on Sunday, the winger reveals he is relishing following in the footsteps of some Pompey greats.

Lowe said: '˜When I first signed they gave me a 17 shirt with Lowe on the back for when I got my picture taken.

'˜It had 17 on it and I was thinking this is not bad being number 17. But then there was a massive delay after I signed and being able to train.

'˜When I came in all my training kit was number 18. I said 'are you sure this one is mine?' I thought fair enough, I'll take 18. I've actually made it now.

'˜Then this season there were a few available '“ seven, 10 and 11. As a forward player you pick one of those and 10 was nice.

'˜Paul Merson and Teddy Sheringham are big boots to fill aren't they!

'˜It shows how far I have come in the past 18 months. For them to be able to say I can have the number 10 shirt is great and I'm buzzing with that.'

Sunday's Sports Mail features 16 exclusive player interviews and the pre-season verdicts of our Pompey experts Neil Allen and Will Rooney.

It also includes a fixtures poster, charting the 46 League One fixtures and the Carabao Cup opener against AFC Wimbledon.

The special edition costs 80p and will be available '“ for one week only '“ in all good newsagents from Sunday.