Portsmouth boss addresses Makenzie Kirk's Fratton Park future after Barnsley switch
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international has scored once in 14 appearances for the Blues
John Mousinho is adamant Makenzie Kirk’s future remains at Fratton Park.
The striker has joined Barnsley on a season-long loan, as first broken by The News earlier this week.
The 22-year-old has struggled for first-team opportunities since arriving from the Scottish Championship in September 2025, totalling one goal and 14 appearances.
With the Blues seeking to strengthen in the forward area this summer, they view the chance of regular League One football with the Tykes as considerably more beneficial to his development.
However, with Kirk contracted to Pompey until the summer of 2028, Mousinho insists this doesn’t mark the end of his Blues playing days.
‘No, absolutely not’
The head coach told The News: ‘Is this the end of Mak’s Pompey career? No, absolutely not.
‘We signed him as a long-term project. Probably “project” isn’t the right word to use, but certainly we have put that focus on development and are in no rush with some of the players.
‘You look at Toby Steward, who we are being extremely patient with and making sure we extend contracts when we can because we want him to eventually come and affect the first-team.
‘Sometimes it is not possible at 18, 19 and 20 and, without an under-21s side, I think it is wise and it is prudent to give them the time to make that leap. We have to make sure we are wise about how we develop players - and the level Mak has gone to is a really good move.
‘He came in last year and had a really good impact with the goal against Coventry and playing a few first-team matches. We just think he’s at a stage now where he needs game time.
‘The best way for him to develop is probably not to be on the bench for us. Barnsley are an excellent club at that level and I think he will go and do really well. The next step up for him will be from Barnsley to get back into the Pompey side and Pompey squad.
‘With the acceleration of his career last year, it was a big step up and a lot to ask to go from the Scottish Championship to the Championship over here - yet he did well enough to go and earn himself a loan at a very, very good League One club.
‘He is going for the season, but we can assess that in January.’
Marko Milovanovic remains transfer target
Pompey are still pursuing the signing of Marko Milovanovic to join Colby Bishop and Thomas Waddingham as their striking options.
Certainly they will be hoping Waddingham is now over his injuries, having marked his return to action at Woking on Tuesday night with a second-half winner.
With the Blues managing his minutes, the Australian didn’t feature at Aldershot the following evening, with Bishop and second-year scholar Dane Bailey each handed 45 minutes as the lone striker.
Mousinho added: ‘We’ve got Mak, Tom and Colby in the building at the moment. With Mak going to Barnsley, we will assess what that looks like in terms of the picture up front.
‘We definitely want to keep strengthening in terms of where we are as a squad and to strengthen that frontline, in particular trying to add goals across the pitch, which is probably one area we were lacking last season.’