How Portsmouth can keep ex-Sunderland target John Marquis firing at the Stadium of Light

John Marquis scores against Doncaster. Picture: Nigel Keene

That is the verdict of Michael Jacobs following Marquis' first League One finish of the season against Gillingham.

The ex-Doncaster man broke the deadlock for the Blues in Tuesday night's 2-0 victory at Priestfield.

It was Marquis’ third finish of the campaign, but his first in the third tier for 11 matches.

The 28-year-old has endured somewhat of a frustrating period since arriving at Fratton Park for a big-money fee in July 2019.

But returning to the starting line-up in place of the injured Ellis Harrison at Gillingham, Marquis seemed to relish playing up front alongside Marcus Harness in the 4-4-2 formation.

The monumental figure Sunderland were quoted for Marquis prior to his Pompey mov...

Having forged himself a reputation as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the lower leagues while at Doncaster, Jacobs knows Pompey must keep supplying Marquis with the ammunition to put the ball in the back of the net.

The former Wigan ace said: ‘John's goal was fantastic, he took it really well.

‘You knew as soon as he got in that position that he was going to take the shot on. It was a great left-footed finish.

‘He's a good striker. I've played with the likes of Will Grigg and you see there are comparisons with the finishing.

‘It's just a service thing. If you give people with that sort of quality the service then you know that they're going to stick the ball in the back of the net.

‘It's just a matter of trying to get him into those positions where you know he's going to score and then you know that he will do the business.

‘That's up to us boys behind him to give him that service.’

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