'A manager's player': Portsmouth boss joins fans in lauding popular ex-Liverpool and Preston man after eye-catching summer arrival

And Pompey’s head coach is delighted Joe Rafferty is receiving the plaudits he deserves so early in his Fratton Park career.

The 28-year-old has started all six of the leaders’ League One matches this season following his free transfer arrival.

The right-back previously saw two-and-a-half year’s service with Preston in the Championship.

Now Rafferty’s on the south coast, taking over the role primarily filled by either Mahlon Romeo or Hayden Carter last season.

And supporters have quickly taken to the former Republic of Ireland youth international.

Cowley told The News: ‘Joe is solid, consistent, very dependable, does what it says on the tin, loves defending – and he’s a winner.

‘I showed him some clips the other day and there are the small things. He was the first to get to the referee at Cardiff when we had the penalty shout. He’s straight there!

‘He does so much unnoticed work defensively in the box. He’s a manager’s player.

‘People call it the dirty work, but I don’t know if I like that phrase. Joe does all those things that maybe go unrecognised, which just shows we’ve got an intelligent support base.

‘Normally the likes of Joe wouldn’t be the ones at the forefront of their minds, but they seem to have taken to him already.

‘He is a defender first. His one-v-one defending is excellent, his positional play is very good, his defending of the back post is very good, and he’s a reliable marker who hates conceding and loves winning.

‘It’s a really good mentality which can be quite infectious.

‘We have a clear job description for every position and with right-back I’m a bit conscious that when you put them together you are almost describing Cafu!

‘Joe is certainly a defender first, but can find a pass and has good quality with his crossing. He’s an intelligent footballer.’

After being released by Liverpool in the summer of 2012, Rafferty joined Rochdale to rebuild his career.

To date he totals 336 appearances and seven goals, while is committed to two years at Pompey following a July arrival.

And Cowley believes Rafferty can serve as an excellent role model for the younger members of his playing squad.

He added: ‘When senior players are really good professionals, I believe it gives the younger ones something to look up to and aspire towards. It can be a really good tool in their education.

‘This is a player who has lived the lower leagues with Rochdale, excelled in this division and got his move to the Championship.

‘Let’s also not forget that Preston have, at times, been games away from getting into the Premier League when Joe was there.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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