Pompey striker backed after night of frustration

Doyle endured a frustrating evening as Pompey were held to a 1-1 draw by Morecambe last night.

The 28-year-old was one of host of players to pass up a stack of chances at Fratton Park.

It’s one goal from Doyle’s first five starts since his arrival from Preston for the rest of the season.

But team-mate, Kal Naismith, believes all the signs are there Doyle will soon be hitting the back of the net with regularity.

Naismith said: ‘If you look at areas he picks up in the box, he takes up some very good positions.

‘He’s a massive goal threat and he will get a lot of goals between now and the end of the season.

‘It wasn’t his night, but I know he will score a lot of goals here. He’s a goalscorer and a very intelligent footballer. Very unselfish.

‘If you know the game you’ll see what he does.

‘He makes very smart runs and uses his body to help others and not necessarily himself. He’s very good at it.

‘He’s missed a few chances in this game but he’s been excellent since he’s come in.’

Naismith knows Doyle will be a frustrated figure after not being able to get the goal to take Pompey into the top three. But he’s been impressed with what he’s seen of his new team-mate.

He said: ‘In training he’s razor sharp and his finishing is great.

‘We’re blessed with good strikers at this club. There’s the likes of Conor (Chaplin) and big Nicke Kabamba since he came in.

‘But Doyler is a very good player. When you miss chances it annoys you. So he’ll be down.

‘He’s missed chances and he’ll beat himself up, because all good goalscorers do – and Eoin’s a great goalscorer.’

- JORDAN CROSS