Former Portsmouth, Plymouth, Everton and Aberdeen winger Matty Kennedy explains benefits of his Fratton Park loan

The Scottish winger spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Fratton Park, after arriving from Cardiff on summer transfer deadline day.

Kennedy made a superb start to his Blues career, with some fans calling for him to be signed on a permanent basis.

However, the former Everton man’s form would dip in the second half of the campaign.

He departed after scoring three goals in 36 appearances, with Pompey deciding not to take up a clause of signing him on a permanent basis.

Kennedy subsequently moved back to his homeland after being released by Cardiff, joining Scottish Premiership outfit St Johnstone.

His impressive performances earned him a switch to fourth-placed Abderdeen for a reported fee of £750,000 in January.

He also broke into the Northern Ireland squad this season.

And Kennedy credits his spell on the south coast for furthering his career.

Speaking to Aberdeen's official website, he said: ‘I went to Portsmouth on loan for the season. I played 33 games for Portsmouth that season.

‘I was one of the main players there. There are potentially a massive club.

‘They have 19,000 fans every week and they are trying to make the stadium bigger to get more people in as there are a lot of fans who can’t get tickets.

‘I think that’s one thing about my career, at Everton, at Cardiff and Portsmouth, there was always pressure there.

‘There was a pressure playing at Plymouth too, as we were trying to get promoted.

‘Hopefully that experience will help me with my career at Aberdeen because you can feel the expectations there are around this club.

‘I can handle the pressure. I’m confident so I don’t mind a bit of pressure.

‘I won’t shy away. I’ll do my best in every game and the pressure doesn’t faze me. I want to prove I’m a good player, create chances for my team-mates and score goals.’

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