Exclusive:'Impressive': Portsmouth boss hails former non-leaguer's Championship entrance after whirlwind five days
The attacker scored 14 goals in 43 National League matches for Eastleigh in the 2024-25 season
Just 16 months ago, Tyrese Shade netted twice for Eastleigh in a 2-2 National League draw at Woking.
Last weekend he was granted his Championship debut for Pompey, signalling a remarkable career upturn - with John Mousinho singing the praises of the newcomer.
Starting on the left wing against Cardiff in place of Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, it represented the first time the 26-year-old has operated above League One level.
Shade proceeded to assist in Conor Shaughnessy’s headed opener with a long throw from the left, while a goal-bound 30-yard shot was brilliantly turned away by Bluebirds keeper Nathan Trott, also in the first half.
Unquestionably, the former Solihull Moors, Walsall, Swindon and Burton man shone on his Blues bow, earning generous applause from the Fratton faithful upon his 69th minute withdrawal through cramp.
And Mousinho was delighted with Shade’s contribution after just five days on the south coast.
‘His overall game was impressive and it’s a great confidence boost for him’
He told The News: ‘With Ryan's injury, we weren't 100 per cent comfortable with how he'd be from the start, we wanted to give him a bit of a breather, so Tyrese is the player we decided to come in and start on the left.
‘We had announced Tyrese’s signing on the Tuesday, he had a first training session on the Wednesday - and we chucked him straight into the side on Saturday for a Championship game against a very, very good Cardiff side.
‘I thought he coped really well and looked really dangerous going the other way too. His overall game was impressive and it’s a great confidence boost for him.
‘With Tyrese, you've got to consider that 16 months ago he was playing for Eastleigh in the National League, while had a really good League One season last year.
‘This is the first time he has properly stepped up and he's one of those who I think is probably a late developer - and, thankfully, we are benefiting from that.
‘He got the way we wanted to press, worked incredibly hard, and this from someone coming in after a whirlwind of a week which saw him sign on deadline day.’
Six EFL Trophy appearances for Leicester City
Shade began his career at Solihull Moors before being signed by Leicester City in 2017, although he never went on to play a first-team game.
There were six Leicester Under-21s outings in the EFL Trophy, scoring against Bury, yet it wasn’t until a season-long loan switch to Walsall in 2021-22 where he tasted Football League action.
There followed a free transfer move to Swindon and a loan return to Solihull, but until he joined Eastleigh in July 2024, Shade had scored just 11 career goals.
He subsequently grabbed 14 in each of the last two seasons, the latter at Burton primarily as a centre-forward - but Mousinho believes the 26-year-old can also operate effectively on the wing.
Pompey’s head coach added: ‘Tyrese wasn’t out of position, I think he can play on the left wing, but it was out of position to where he’d been playing at Burton.
‘He's got all the attributes to play out there. He may play slightly narrower than usual, but when we were looking at him in January and were looking at him again on Saturday, I think it gives you the ability for someone to play across the front four.
‘Stick him in any of those positions and I believe he can perform well.’