John Marquis believes Portsmouth need time - but will hit form when it counts this season

John Marquis believes new-look Pompey will take time to gel this season.
Pompey's John Marquis. Picture: Nigel KeenePompey's John Marquis. Picture: Nigel Keene
Pompey's John Marquis. Picture: Nigel Keene

But the striker is confident his side will peak at the right time in their quest for promotion this term.

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It’s been four wins, two draws and two defeats in all competitions following a busy summer of transfer activity.

Kenny Jackett recruited eight new faces as he set about building a squad with greater depth for his third campaign at the helm, while key men Jamal Lowe, Matt Clarke and Nathan Thompson have departed.

The 27-year-old has liked what he’s seen from his new team-mates on the front foot, although there’s work to do defensively as a unit.

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Marquis believes, however, his new side will hit the form required at the right term in the months ahead.

He said: ‘I think when you sign a lot of players it takes a little while.

‘We’ve got Burgey (Burgess) playing right-back, Brandon (Haunstrup) left-back and Nayls (Naylor) dropping in at centre-half with Downs (Downing).

‘It’s a new back four and there’s gelling taking place all across the pitch.

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‘It’s the same in midfield, so there’s going to be time needed to gel.

‘I feel like there’s a good understanding going forward.

‘Marcus (Harness) and Ronan (Curtis) have played with me in the majority of the games as a front three. I think we’ve got goals in our team.

‘I’ve said before there’s no point in peaking at this point in the season. There needs to be a steady progress.

‘There’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be defeats. It’s how you react and come back from them.’

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There’s been some criticism at Jackett’s brand of football amid the recent frustrations aired by Pompey supporters.

He added: ‘Every game we go in to try to win. We will go to places and do that, as we showed against a Championship side in QPR.

‘We won’t go to sit off and nick one on the break. We will try to win.’