Dumbuya still keen on left-back role

But most recent incumbent Mustapha Dumbuya remains with his hand in the air volunteering his services should Michael Appleton desire.

The Sierra Leone international returned to Pompey’s side in last weekend’s 3-1 success over Shrewsbury.

Yet with Lee Williamson retaining his place at right-back, Dumbuya was instead asked to play at left-back for the first time since arriving at the club this summer.

Not that the remit is anything new to the 25-year-old, who featured there for previous club Doncaster around 20 times.

One of his appearances came in Rovers’ 3-2 triumph at Fratton Park in November 2010.

Pompey’s left-back that day was Dickinson, who was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute following a horror tackle on James Hayter.

Now both are at the Blues and under consideration for tonight’s tough visit to high-flying Stevenage.

And Dumbuya has reiterated his willingness to remain in that role if instructed by his manager.

He said: ‘I don’t mind playing at left-back and would definitely be okay with going there again if asked.

‘I am naturally right-footed but if it’s there to hit with my left foot I will try my best.

‘If I have to I will, that doesn’t concern me. I actually played there for Donny for 15 or 20 games, including that match at Portsmouth a few years ago.

‘Believe it or not I still remember it. There was one moment when I took out Michael Brown and we scored from it!

‘In the end we won 3-2 as David Healy banged it in from 25 yards for the winner.

‘If I play left-back again tonight I would say it will be another two or three games before I get used to it again.

‘Sometimes I find it difficult because I am naturally right-footed and I try to shift it inside and open up.

‘In fact, it was my mistake for Shrewsbury’s goal.

‘In the build up I tripped over myself when I was trying to push it in when it should have been whacked out.

‘At one point in the second half I also put one ball in with the outside of my right foot when it should have been with my left, so it takes a while.

‘It will take some time to get used to it again and you have got to learn from it but I thought I was all right.

‘After the international I have just got to get back into the swing of things and impress in training and hopefully play in the next game.’

Tonight’s opponents are currently second in League One.

Stevenage remain unbeaten at home so far, having lost only one match overall all season.

Yet Pompey themselves have hit a bit of form of late with 13 points from a possible 15.

Dumbuya added: ‘Hopefully we can make it six league matches unbeaten tonight.

‘It was always going to take a while for us to gel because we didn’t play with each other before and didn’t have a pre-season together.

‘But we are see the just rewards at the moment.’