Can Cameron McGeehan and Ben Close play together? Home-grown Portsmouth midfielder gives his verdict

Ben Close believes he can thrive in the same Pompey XI as Cameron McGeehan.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Blues midfielder sees no reason why he can’t operate with his new team-mate in their bid to help their side reach the Championship.

McGeehan’s arrival on loan from Barnsley for the rest of the season has slightly limited what’s been another impressive run of games from the Southsea lad this term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Close has clocked up 40 appearances to date in addition to the 46 outings he made last term, but it’s been six starts from 10 since McGeehan beefed up competition in the middle of the park.

Captain Tom Naylor has been favoured in a holding role in Kenny Jackett’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and a virtual ever-present for the past two seasons.

But the dramatic EFL Trophy win over Exeter on Tuesday was the third game in four Close and McGeehan had started together, with different set-ups used in that time.

The 23-year-old feels there’s certainly potential for that midfield understanding to grow.

Close said: ‘I don’t see why we can’t play together.

Ben Close believes he can thrive with Cameron McGeehan.Ben Close believes he can thrive with Cameron McGeehan.
Ben Close believes he can thrive with Cameron McGeehan.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘With the three of us there’s a lot of combinations, I feel.

‘Tom’s been excellent and he’s a different player to everyone else we have in there.

‘He’s a leader and our captain and is fully deserving of a spot, there’s no doubt about that.

‘We (McGeehan and Close) could absolutely work, though. We’ve got parts of our games which can contribute and complement each other. I don’t see why that couldn’t work as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘The three of us could play in any partnership and I think we would be comfortable.

‘There’s a good mix to all of us. That’s how I feel, anyway.

‘Whoever the manager picks, I feel could do a good job.’

Close welcomed McGeehan’s presence in Pompey’s ranks, despite the fact it could potentially block his path to playing time.

The academy graduate pointed to the intense competition all over the pitch at present and the number of experienced players who’ve not been featuring of late.

Close added: ‘Yes, there’s stiff competition in midfield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘In fact, there is all over the pitch if you look at John (Marquis) and Ellis (Harrison) scoring goals and not always starting.

‘There’s rotation for the players but you need that competition all the pitch.

‘We are going to need it to get through the amount of games we’ve got coming up - and we are going to need it to get the good results we want.’

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.