'No player in the world can do that': Portsmouth man's fitness admission after encouraging comeback
The winger has made four Pompey starts since arriving from Liverpool in August 2024
It represented a first start in almost eight months and the joint-longest time spent on a football pitch in Pompey colours.
Certainly Harvey Blair is encouraged that he was able to show ‘a glimpse’ of what he is capable of in a surprise QPR outing which left many impressed..
Now the winger is determined to step up his first-team involvement and build on an eye-catching Boxing Day contribution after suffering plenty of bad luck since his Fratton Park arrival.
With Josh Murphy sidelined by a hamstring injury at present, the ex-Liverpool youngster may now find himself being handed a consistent run in John Mousinho’s team, starting tonight against Charlton (7.45pm)
Although, after being forced off on 59 minutes through tiredness, his body must also be allowed to adjust to the challenge.
‘By the 55th minute, I could feel my legs going’
Blair told The News: ‘I felt really good, I’ve been feeling really good in myself for the past 4-5 weeks. It’s just about getting as many games as possible under my belt, the more games the better I’m going to become.
‘Obviously QPR was only a glimpse of what I can do, I just need minutes on my legs because, by the 55th minute, I could feel my legs going.
‘It was my first start since May. I do a lot of extra running at the training ground and a lot of stuff for my fitness, but, no matter how much extra I do, nothing compares to playing in a game.
‘It’s not as if I’ve had a friendly game either, I haven’t had one. Previously, the longest I had played since last season was when I came on at Derby. That’s the longest I’d had in a while, I need to build on it and take it from there.
‘To be honest, against QPR I felt my calves going from a few recovery runs. I just need to play as many games as possible and it will come. No player in the world is going to be able to play 90 minutes after not starting a game for eight months.
‘It has been a while, so I just need to keep my head down and keep going.’
Joined from Liverpool in August 2024
It also represented just a fourth start since arriving from Anfield for an undisclosed fee in August 2024.
Frustratingly, the winger has totalled just 17 appearances and scored once during an injury-ravaged time on the south coast to date.
But Blair only has eyes on the future after his Boxing Day breakthrough.
He added: ‘I'm getting used to it. I’ve only started five games for Pompey, so it’s just about adapting to how the team wants me to play and my positioning.
‘The staff know what I’m capable of because they see it in training every single day, it’s just about being consistent with it and, every time I get the ball, just being direct because it does help the team.
‘It’s about continuing how I started off against QPR - I will get better.’
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