Appy: Wait until November to see best of us

The Blues have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in League One in recent weeks.

That run of form has lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to 12th in the table.

The only blip has been the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat to Wycombe.

Regardless, it has been a remarkable turnaround since a 3-0 defeat at Notts County on September 22 marked three successive losses.

Shrewsbury will be visiting Fratton Park on Saturday.

Appleton’s options will be boosted by the return of Mustapha Dumbuya from international duty with Sierra Leone.

But he doesn’t believe fans will see the best of his team until next month.

‘I’ve said all along, November would be more of a time to judge this team,’ said Appleton.

‘That is when you are probably going to see the best of them. I don’t think we are anywhere near our best at the minute.

‘The good thing is we are getting results and doing okay and there is a lot more to come from this team in the next few months.

‘I genuinely believe we have got so much work to do and they’re nowhere near their best at the minute.

‘More importantly, we are picking up points along the way.

‘To be fair, the players have got down to business.

‘After a few weeks back – when we lost three games on the bounce in such a short space of time – we have responded really well.

‘By the time we do get to playing our best football, hopefully, we can continue to pick up these results.’

Shrewsbury are two places and two points behind Pompey in League One.

They are still to win away from home this term.