Pompey forward: I've shown what I have in my locker

As Kenny Jackett hones his favoured Blues line-up, Dennis has already slipped behind in the pursuit.

Employed as an unused substitute at Stevenage last weekend, the summer recruit was then handed a starting role in a Pompey XI at Gosport on Tuesday night.

Dennis responded magnificently, with two goals and an assist helping a youthful side claim a 3-0 victory.

For those 1,010 supporters present, it was a first glimpse of the ex-Bromley man as he thrived in the number 10 role behind Dan Smith.

And the 25-year-old believes his 90-minute outing demonstrated what he can offer the Blues.

Dennis said: '˜I wasn't used off the bench on Saturday, so wanted to get some extra minutes at Gosport. I thought it was important and hopefully I've done well in the manager's eyes.

'˜You don't want to be doing all the running in training and then not getting the match sharpness, so it was a good idea to play.

'˜I don't know how many people are aware of what I can do, so at the moment I have a big point to prove.

'˜Hopefully, the other night people saw a few flashes of what I can do '“ and I need to build on that.

'˜I need to get a little bit sharper, fitter and it's still early in the pre-season, but I thought I did okay at Gosport.

'˜My role was to play just behind Smudge (Smith) in the number 10 role, trying to link up the midfield and forwards.

'˜There's definitely more to come from me. It's still early days, I have a lot to prove, a lot to work on, but am excited to do it.

'˜At this club there's a lot of competition for places, which is always healthy, everyone is knocking on the door to play against Luton.'

Pompey's next friendly is a trip to Swindon on Saturday.

Dennis will again be included in Jackett's squad, although now has credit in the bank following his Gosport showing.

He added: '˜For the first goal, the corner came in short, I managed to bring it down and worked a little angle.

'˜Although I didn't really catch the shot, if you don't shoot you don't score and on these pitches sometimes you get a little bit lucky.

'˜The second was a great through pass from Christian Burgess and luckily I had the composure to finish it off.

'˜I am right-footed, but taught myself to be able to come back on to my left and do some damage.'