'I don't see it as that': Keshi Anderson relishing Portsmouth journey after Birmingham City pain
The winger made 92 appearances and scored 10 goals during a St Andrew’s stay which also sawt them win League One
Keshi Anderson has spoken of his pain after becoming ‘surplus’ on Birmingham’s remarkable journey.
Now the experienced winger is relishing embarking on another exciting adventure with Pompey, especially after a memorable south-coast derby unveiling.
The former Crystal Palace and Swindon man’s two-and-a-half year St Andrew’s career ended abruptly earlier this month with a mutually-agreed departure after 92 appearances and 10 goals.
Despite being a pivotal figure in their League One title-winning side and having six months remaining on his contract, the 30-year-old was left searching for another club.
Recognising Anderson’s talents, John Mousinho moved quickly to snap him up on an 18-month deal to bolster Pompey attacking options devastated by injury and short of Championship know-how.
And, having put his Birmingham disappointment behind him, the newcomer is determined to inspire a successful survival battle.
‘I’m creating new bonds and new friendships’
Anderson told The News: ‘If I had wanted to, I could have stayed at Birmingham, but, for myself, I needed to go. It was just something that happened in a short space of time, which maybe I could see coming, but it is what it is.
‘I played 21 games up until January, it wasn’t like I was never playing, although my minutes had diminished from a certain time onwards. From December onwards, I wasn’t really playing as much as I would have probably liked.
‘These things can happen in football, sometimes games go certain ways, different subs are needed, you can’t really look too much into that. But, when the time came for me to go my separate ways, eventually it was mutual.
‘Everybody wants to be playing. To be fair, with the journey Birmingham were going on, I made it clear from the year we got relegated that I wanted to be a part of it, I wanted to get the club back up.
‘I want to be there and continue to push that club and in football sometimes you are seen as surplus. Fine, it’s part of the game, it can happen to anyone, it’s one of those things. Okay, this is where we are at, how do we get around it.
‘As a person and the way I hold myself, I expect myself to get back into the team or push the manager to have decisions where they say, do you know what, you should be playing,
‘Every footballer knows you have to earn your shirt. There were times where it didn’t feel like people were earning that shirt and it was just a given - which was an issue.
‘It was hard to leave Birmingham. The fans there were unbelievable to me, my team-mates were the best team I had been in as a group, the changing room itself was unbelievable. I was on FaceTime with them on Tuesday. It’s not something you just leave.
‘Now I’m creating new bonds and new friendships with my new team-mates at Pompey, which is the most important thing.
‘I understand the battle the club feel they have in terms of a relegation battle, but I don’t see it as that, I see it as last year we finished 16th and this year it has been unfortunate with the injuries.
‘But, with the quality I know is within the club and the players in the group, I think we can do a lot better than some people think.’
South-coast derby baptism of fire
Just five days after arriving, Anderson was named on Pompey’s bench for a first league south-coast derby at Fratton Park in more than 14 years.
Introduced in the 71st minute for Conor Chaplin, he was on the pitch when Ebou Adams levelled against Southampton six minutes later, prompting memorable celebrations.
Anderson was asked to operate on the left flank, with Millenic Alli moved over to the right to accommodate him, and immediately showed excellent work-rate and flashes of attacking skill.
And it’s on the left wing or as the number 10 where he feels he performs best.
‘I’d like to think I am exciting for the fans’
Anderson added: ‘I like to think of myself as a positive player.
‘As a bare minimum, every player should be hard working, run hard, help your team-mates, but, as an individual, I would like to see myself that takes players on, who links up play well.
‘I want to get on the ball and create things and I can go off both feet, both ways. I’d like to think I am exciting for the fans.
‘Preferably I play on the left wing or as the 10, but I’m happy to do a job for the team, that’s the kind of person I am, and always willing.’