Christian Burgess enjoys record-breaking campaign with Royal Union Saint-Gilloise as Portsmouth season remains in balance

Christian Burgess, left, celebrates with his Royale Union Saint-Gilloise team-mates after scoring against RFC Seraing, Picture: LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Former Fratton favourite Christian Burgess is celebrating a record-breaking maiden campaign in Belgium at a time when Pompey’s play-off fate is yet to be decided.

The Blues promotion hopes still hang in the balance with three matches to go, with a trip to Accrington tonight up next.

But as nerves grow around Fratton Park, Burgess – who made 210 Pompey appearances over five seasons – can relax in the knowledge that the job has been completed with his club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise.

The defender's last Pompey appearance came in the heartbreaking play-off semi-final defeat to Oxford United last July.

That saw him leave Fratton Park on a low.

But fast forward nearly 10 months and the centre-back is clearly enjoying the highs of his team’s promotion to the top-flight Belgian Jupiler League thanks to a history-making season in Belgium’s First Division B.

Finishing their season with a 2-2 draw against KMSK Deinze on Sunday, Union romped to the league title with a record points total - 70 from 28 games played. The previous record was 59 points.

Burgess & Co registered an all-time high number of wins (22) and 11 consecutive victories shattered the previous best of nine.

Meanwhile, from all the points available, Union secured 83.3 per cent of them.

Seventh-placed Pompey are still in a highly competitive play-off fight, but Union proved far too much for their opposition.

Indeed, in addition to the above, Burgess was part of a prolific side that recorded the highest ever number of league goals - 69 (the previous best was 55) – all while he showed off the defensive talent that wrote him into modern Pompey folklore.

Union were also unbeaten at the Stade Joseph Marien all season, losing just two divisional games all year (previous record three), and conceding only 24 times.

It’s safe to say Burgess has thrived since taking the big leap of faith to move abroad.

And Pompey fans have been sending the 29-year-old their congratulations folowing his remarkable campaign.

Lin_Pompey tweeted: ‘Congratulations Burgey, you obviously made the right move and the club are lucky to have you. We miss you at Pompey.’

Other Blues supporters used the opportunity to tempt the central defender back to the south coast.

@lewishutchinson1 tweeted: ‘Your mission there is complete. Now please return to Fratton Park.’

- FREDDIE WEBB