Joe Gallen reveals technical improvements behind Tom Naylor's best season of his Portsmouth career

That’s the verdict of Joe Gallen following the Blues skipper’s latest impressive showing.

Naylor grabbed his seventh goal of the season in Tuesday night’s 3-1 victory at Charlton.

Yet, according to Pompey’s assistant manager, it’s not solely the goal-scoring department in which the 29-year-old has raised his game.

And Gallen is convinced Naylor is playing his best football since his June 2018 arrival from Burton.

He told The News: ‘Tom Naylor, for whatever reason, has managed to come up with quite a lot of goals and some of them have been spectacular.

‘He’s having a storming season. It’s his best season here, to be honest.

‘Tom has always played very well as a defensive midfielder, he will say that himself, but this season I think there has been a big improvement in possession and a huge improvement in the goalscoring.

‘Goals are not really what we talk to Tom about, but he himself has added that to his game.

‘He has played so well for us since he’s been at Pompey and this season’s added a lot of them so far.

‘There has also been an improvement in the technical department. We have worked on it on the training ground, but the player also has to want it.

‘Confidence has come from that and the ball whistling into the net from 25 yards.

‘He has worked on his game and is reaping the rewards.’

Naylor has made 126 appearances and scored 12 times for the Blues.

However, his three-year deal expires in the summer, along with the likes of Jack Whatmough, Andy Cannon, Ben Close and Ryan Williams.

Gallen added: ‘No-one deserves anything more than Tom.

‘He’s captain, a leader, a fantastic professional and a fantastic bloke. I’m so pleased for him.’

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