Portsmouth's Ronan Curtis remains a prized asset but current value to team is under threat after notable MK Dons substitution

It’s a tag well-earned following his meteoric rise in a Blues shirt, after completing a move from League of Ireland Derry City in 2018.

Indeed, with 101 appearances, 29 goals and 30 assists currently on his record, his Fratton Park stats speak for itself.

It’s little wonder Championship clubs have been sniffing around, keeping an eye on his development.

And Pompey can no doubt expect a handsome profit if any of that snooping results in an acceptable offer in the future – not that the Blues are looking to cash in on a player they signed from the Candystripes for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000.

SEE ALSO: Jackett explains the Pompey formation switch which nearly backfired against MK Dons

However, while his valuation has soared during his time at PO4, recent developments make you question his value to this current Pompey team.

Last Saturday saw the 24-year-old dropped from the starting line-up for the trip to Burton Albion.

He joined striker John Marquis on the bench as the duo paid the price for the Blues’ indifferent start to the season.

Both had to watch on as a Marcus Harness-inspired Pompey secured their first league win of the new campaign.

But all seemed forgotten when Curtis returned to the first XI for yesterday’s visit of MK Dons to Fratton Park, following a two-goal salvo against Southend in midweek.

Yet the fact that he was withdrawn at half-time when the game against Russell Martin’s side was far from won speaks volumes.

A player of Curtis’ ability will have the capability to adding to your goals-for tally regardless of the opposition’s domination of the ball.

There’s always the possibility of a goal being produced out of nothing.

But that threat was nullified with just 45 minutes on the clock as manager Kenny Jackett went for a change in formation and tactics.

Out went a new-look 4-4-2 system for the game against MK Dons, with Curtis operating on the right wing.

And in came a 3-5-2, which quickly changed to a 5-3-2, as central defender Rasmus Nicolaisen was brought on for this league debut.

To be fair, the London-born ace wasn’t having one of his best games in a Pompey shirt as he struggled to make his mark.

But the same could be said of Michael Jacobs and Harness, both of whom were also withdrawn as the game progressed.

So why Curtis at that precise moment in the game? Why not one of the other two?

Only Jackett can explain his thinking in that respect.

However, it must be said that Curtis hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders this season.

The effort has been there, but the quality has been missing.

His three goals and three assists from nine outings so far this term have placed him well up the leader board in those respective departments – and not for the first time, of course.

But his overall play is yet to reach the heights of previous seasons, with Pompey fans patiently waiting for him to burst onto the scene and lay down a marker for the rest of the campaign.

It’s fair to say, his influence has been missed on more than one occasion this term.

And he’s clearly paying the price for failing to meet those expectations.

Like last October, when he was benched for games against Gillingham, Wimbledon and Lincoln, a period when he’s not one of the first names on the team sheet might help to reinvigorate him, inspire him to find his form.

In the meantime, though, while Curtis might remain a prized Blues asset, he needs to rediscover his value to the current Pompey project.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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