Out-of-favour Portsmouth man poised for League One switch in hunt for regular football
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international has scored once in 14 appearances for the Blues
Makenzie Kirk is set for League One move in the hunt for regular first-team football.
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international is poised to complete a switch to Barnsley on a season-long loan.
Kirk was left out of the Blues’ 22-man squad for tonight’s opening pre-season friendly at National League side Woking.
In his absence, striking rivals Colby Bishop and Thomas Waddingham both netted in a 2-1 success for John Mousinho’s men.
Instead Kirk was in South Yorkshire tying up a deal with Barnsley, who last season finished 15th in League One.
It has been a disappointing stay on the south coast so far for the centre-forward, who was recruited from St Johnstone in a £500,000 deal in September 2025.
He made 14 appearances in the 2025-26 season, while scored against Coventry in October 2025 at Fratton Park.
However, injury and selection preference meant he barely featured in the second half of the campaign, with just one outing after February 7.
Pompey already have Bishop and Waddingham vying for the striker position in Mousinho’s team, while the Blues are also pursuing Serbian attacker Marko Milovanovic.
It is hoped Kirk can now flourish with regular first-team football at Barnsley, with Pompey to monitor his progress from afar.