Gillingham win race for in-demand Portsmouth defender - beating off Oldham, Chesterfield and Eastleigh

The Gills have secured the Pompey youngster on a season-long loan to add competition to their central defensive spots.

National League trio Eastleigh, Chesterfield and Oldham had also been in the running for the 20-year-old.

While three weeks ago, Crewe were turned away on the basis of wanting to employ Mnoga at right-back.

In the end, Gills boss Neil Harris convinced both Danny Cowley and Mnoga that the League Two outfit represented the best place to maintain his encouraging development.

Harris had attended the Blues’ Tuesday night 2-2 draw against Crawley, in which Mnoga featured for the full 90 minutes at centre-half.

He again emerged with credit as he continues to impress since a production loan spell with then-National League Weymouth in the second half of last season.

That was a welcome antidote to an awful time at Bromley endured by Mnoga, which saw him contemplating quitting football.

Now he has the opportunity for regular first-team football at League Two level with Gillingham, who were relegated from Pompey’s league last season.

The Gills are currently 21st, with just one win in their opening six fixtures, and collecting two clean sheets.

Mnoga, who has been earmarked for a place on the right of a back three, will train with his new team-mates tomorrow ahead of hosting Swindon on Saturday.

Pompey have the option of recalling the defender in January at the midway point of the season-long arrangement.

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