'His brightest Portsmouth display': How nine-minute cameo could finally ignite ex-Newcastle man's Blues career

And it could finally signal the first-team breakthrough which has frustratingly so far eluded the veteran since his high-profile homecoming.

The former Newcastle man has totalled just 142 minutes in the Championship this season, including 60 minutes in his only start against Sunderland.

Surprisingly, it has been purely a bit-part role for a player who spent the previous seven years in the Premier League, including 13 league outings for the Toon last season.

Yet nine minutes off the bench against the Owls caught Mousinho’s eye - and he insists Ritchie is in the frame to start against Hull.

Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘To be honest, Matt’s appearance against Sheffield Wednesday is probably the brightest he has looked in a Pompey shirt so far.

‘He’s also looked really sharp in training. It has been a huge adjustment going from someone who hasn’t played much football at all for the last couple of years to coming into a group where there's a lot of expectation on him - and he really has to kick on.

‘He came on and had an effect on the game the other night and has been ready for a few weeks. Matt has been considered for starts for a few weeks now.

‘We can play him anywhere behind the front men, even left wing-back if we need him. I think he’s a versatile player.’

The introduction of Ritchie from the bench almost inspired a last-gasp point against Sheffield Wednesday.

However, his precision cross was agonisingly headed over the bar by top-scorer Callum Lang as the Blues slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Mousinho added: ‘We can’t hang our hat on every one of those chances and Callum has been our most potent goal threat this season from any position played, so no criticism on him.

‘But, on another day, if that goes in we end up drawing the game and come away with a different perspective on the match. Although, overall, the performance was still the same.

‘We did okay, we need to do a bit more to make sure we win those games.’