Portsmouth boss reveals Milovanović outlook as clamour grows for Derby County start
The landmark Pompey signing known as ‘Marezi’ opened his Fratton goal account against Bristol City. Now calls are growing for the new boy to start against Derby County.
Marko Milovanović is primed to be unleashed on the Championship in earnest.
Pompey boss John Mousinho feels his big-money striker is now ‘probably ready’ to start games, after opening his Fratton goal account.
Mousinho on Milovanović starting: ‘He’s probably ready now ‘
That means Mousinho now has a big call to make over who starts up front for the Blues, as Derby County arrive at PO4 tomorrow.
The clamour is growing for Milovanović to be given his full league debut, as he left the bench at Bristol City to win and convert Pompey’s late penalty in the 2-1 defeat.
The landmark €3.5m capture from UD Almeria has made four substitute appearances to date, after an arrival which has been greeted with a decent fanfare.
Pompey fans have welcomed the man known as ‘Marezi’ with open arms, with hopes high over what the striker can achieve in the second tier.
Now Mousinho has confirmed Milovanović is likely ready to start games, as the Rams visit precedes Cardiff City’s arrival next Saturday.
The Pompey boss said: ‘It’s nice to get him out for another 30 minutes-plus on the pitch - and he obviously took his penalty very well.
‘I thought when he came on against Lincoln last weekend he looked slightly rusty.
‘He looked a lot better and sharper against Bristol City, got his goal and that will be good for his confidence.
‘He’s probably ready now - so we’ll what that looks like over the next few weeks.’
The calls for Milovanović to start comes as Colby Bishop’s long-running difficulties in front of goal continued at Ashton Gate.
Bishop’s blank against the Robins makes it four starts without a goal this term, with it now a single league goal in open play for the striker in over a year - a run spanning 42 league games.
When asked about Bishop’s struggles in front of goal continuing at Bristol City, Mousinho chose to focus on the quality of balls in to the box from his side.
He said: ‘There’s probably a bit of frustration for me that when we won the penalty it’s a good ball into the box from Swifty on that right-hand side.
‘I think we got into some really good positions on both sides and didn’t deliver the ball in well enough. That’s something we need to look at.’