'No-brainer': Portsmouth urged to make Adrian Segecic positional change to help youngster flourish
The Croat started just twice in his favoured position after November, with Conor Chaplin preferred
Adrian Segecic must be restored to his favoured number 10 role if Pompey want to maximise his tantalising attacking potential.
That’s the verdict of Mark Robertson, the 22-year-old’s footballing mentor and father of ex-Blues loanee Alex.
Segecic enjoyed an outstanding maiden season in England, finishing as the Blues’ 11-goal top scorer, including registering a stunning hat-trick at Stoke in April.
However, the former Sydney FC talent was largely played out of position by John Mousinho, having been asked to operate in an unfamiliar right-wing role during the campaign.
Instead Conor Chaplin and John Swift were preferred in the number 10 role favoured by Segecic from December onwards, albeit without offering the same goal threat.
And Robertson is adamant the Croatian Under-21 international should next season be returned by Pompey to his best - and most effective - position.
‘It’s a no-brainer, why wouldn't you play him in the 10?’
He told The News: ‘Where Adrian is going to cause teams the most problems is that pocket 10. He is a more workmanlike 10 as opposed to your tricky and creative 10, he’s very industrious that’s for sure.
‘I have never ever thought he was a winger as such. He has different attributes to a winger, you can ask him to come inside onto that left foot, but it’s just not the same, you become a one-trick pony.
‘Whereas if you put him in the pocket 10, he’s working on 360 degrees with no touchline behind him, he can go either way. His change of direction is absolutely brilliant anyway, he can turn on a sixpence.
‘Most of the 10s I played with were passengers, they were talented but didn’t want to work as hard as the rest of us because of the talent. This kid’s got talent, yet works harder than everyone else, it’s a no-brainer, why wouldn't you play him in the 10?
‘Sega playing as a winger was frustrating, but through no-one’s fault. When he joined, Chappers wasn’t at the football club, he was only up against Lang in the 10 spot. Then it became round pegs and square holes in the end, a case of who do we play on the wing when we’ve got three 10s?
‘He went walkabout in the end, it got to the stage where being so disciplined and playing in that position was frustrating him more than anything because he wasn’t getting the ball or wasn’t able to take on his opponent.
‘Let’s be honest, if you are left-footed playing on the right wing, you are never really going to go down the line because what’s the end product going to be anyway? You're going to swing your right foot at it - and that’s no good to anyone.
‘If I’m the full-back, I know you’re going to come inside because you are left-footed. With that said, Adrian started coming in off the line a lot more in the last 4-6 weeks of the season. He probably should have taken it upon himself to do that a lot earlier.
‘However, we all have a job to do. If John Mousinho wants you to have chalk on your boots, you are definitely going to do that for the sake of the team.
‘It is what it is, it worked out well for everyone, it was a real learning curve for all at the football club and for Adrian himself, working out where he is best suited.’
Moved positions to accommodate Conor Chaplin
After arriving in June 2025, Segecic started the season in the number 10 role, netting in his opening two Championship matches.
However, the deadline-day recruitment of Chaplin eventually saw the Ipswich loanee capture the position, with Segecic moved out to the right wing to accommodate him.
Indeed, after November 29, the Croat would start just twice as Pompey’s number 10 over the remainder of the season.
Robertson added: ‘When you take players on loan, you still have a duty to play them.
‘It’s like Alexander when he came into Pompey from Manchester City. He did quite well, but there's always something in the background to say that Manchester City have loaned you the player, you must play the player.
‘Very rarely does someone go on loan and just sit on the bench all season, otherwise what’s the point of the loan?
‘I did have to remind Sega that Chappers was on loan and, by all accounts, there would have been some element of Chappers needing to play some game time, that’s for sure.’