'Brilliantly well': Portsmouth boss hails instant Fratton Park impact of former non-league man
The former Eastleigh man has made six appearances since his deadline day arrival
John Mousinho believes Tyrese Shade has done ‘brilliantly well’ since stepping up in the Championship.
And Pompey’s head coach remains convinced the versatile attacker is best suited to the left wing, despite his centre-forward background.
At the time of the Blues’ Championship return for the 2024-25 season following a 12-year absence, Shade was representing Eastleigh in the National League.
Now the 26-year-old is being challenged to supply the Pompey fire power to improve on last term’s 18th-placed finish, following a £1.8m summer switch from Burton.
Although yet to get off the mark in his six outings so far, Mousinho has been impressed with Shade, who he has primarily employed as a left winger.
And he is convinced there is plenty more to come from the ex-Walsall and Swindon attacker.
‘He has looked every inch a Championship player’
Mousinho told The News: ‘First of all, we signed Tyrese because of his flexibility and how good he has been over the past couple of seasons, stepping up to the level.
‘If you take that into account, Tyrese has largely been playing in the National League and a really good season at Burton - then he’s moved up since then. With adjustment in certain moments, Tyrese has looked every inch a Championship player.
‘He was excellent at Southampton, a constant threat down that left-hand side, he got in so many times, but we didn’t quite have that finish off the back end. That’s where I’ve probably preferred to play Tyrese, he’s had some really big impactful moments.
‘Then it’s just about finding his best position and adjusting to the level as well. In terms of him coming in and understanding the press, understanding the way we play, he has done that brilliantly well - and there’s loads more to come.
‘His position as left wing was my instinct when signing him. He normally plays as a centre-forward, he played in a two a lot at Burton and drifted out to the left-hand side, and he could cause real problems from there.
‘I still think he’s an excellent option as a 10, as a nine, as one of the wide players as well. His work-rate is fantastic, physically his output is through the roof.
‘Once it falls for Tyrese and he gets his first goal, then he should be fine.’
Centre-forward for Wolves clash
Shade was employed at centre-forward against Wolves on Tuesday night, with Marko Milovanovic rested and Colby Bishop injured.
It represented the second time he had featured for the Blues in a role where he had flourished at League One Burton, earning that deadline day move to Fratton Park.
Certainly more competition for the left wing spot is on the horizon, with Josh Murphy’s impending return to fitness and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s ongoing eye-catching displays there.
Mousinho added: ‘There’s no massive focus for me on Tyrese’s improvement at the minute.
‘Adjusting to the level is big for him in terms of the pace and intensity of it. The number of games and demands for someone as physical as him is an important thing for us to consider.
‘The more games he plays at the level, the more he will get used to how we want to play. We had to chuck him in when we signed him on Tuesday night and then played on the Saturday against Cardiff.
‘Tyrese didn’t have a pre-season with us, he hasn’t had the luxury of us having six weeks to work with him and without any games to work on the training pitch.
‘But the more he plays for us and the more time he has in the building will benefit him.’