Portsmouth boss make position clear over out-of-contract former Ipswich Town and QPR man’s Fratton future
Andre Dozzell is one of 7 out-of-contract players for Pompey this summer. John Mousinho today discusses the midfielder’s future.
John Mousinho wants to keep Andre Dozzell at Fratton Park moving forward.
The Pompey boss has made it clear he wants one of his ‘first names on the team-sheet’ remaining at PO4 next term.
Mousinho on Dozzell: ‘We want to keep Doz’
Dozzell is one of seven first-team players who are out of contract this summer, along with the likes of Marlon Pack, Connor Ogilvie and Zak Swanson.
Mousinho goes public on Dozzell, Pack and Ogilvie futures
The midfielder saw his one-year agreement extended last year, with a 12-month stay triggered as the Blues remained in the Championship.
The 26-year-old has once again been a constant presence in the middle of the park this season, before missing the past three games with an ankle issue.
Mousinho is appreciative of what the former QPR and Ipswich man brings to the table, however, as he outlined his position on Dozzell moving forward.
He said: ‘We want to keep Doz here next season.
‘He’s one of the first names on the team-sheet and has hardly missed a game this season.
‘The only game he missed was through suspension (before his ankle injury), he missed the Swansea game through suspension. It was the Charlton game, but that unfortunately didn’t count because it was abandoned so he missed Swansea.
‘He came straight back into the side and has been a solid presence in the middle of the park.
‘He’s a very good footballer and he’s physically very much improved, since he first got him into the building.
‘That’s really added to his game, so my aim to Doz would be to say I feel he’s playing the best football of his career. I think it’s the most consistent he’s been for many years and hopefully he can see value in that.
‘I think he’s been very consistent through the year, we’ve been very pleased with Doz.
‘We’ve asked him to do slightly different roles and he’s had different midfield partners, so adjusting to that is a real challenge for Doz. We think he’s done really well.’
Mousinho has now gone public on wanting Dozzell to remain at Pompey, following on from stating he wants skipper Marlon Pack at Fratton Park all the time he’s in charge.
The head coach has also nailed his colours to the mast over wanting to keep his longest-serving player in Connor Ogilvie moving forward.
He yesterday told The News: ‘I’d love to see Connor extend his deal.
‘I think we are in discussions with Connor, but I genuinely have no idea where they are. Deliberately so.
‘That then allows me to have a football-based conversation with Connor, and nothing else - but the club are speaking to his agent to try to get something done.’