The attribute Matt Casey needs to develop to bolster Portsmouth first-team chances

The towering centre-back penned his maiden professional contract at Fratton Park last summer.

However, Casey hasn’t made a single Blues appearances this season after featuring three times during last campaign's successful Checkatrade Trophy run.

He had a stint on loan at the Hawks in September but was sent back to Pompey after just two appearances.

Meanwhile, Casey was gaining first-team experience at Bognor before the coronavirus crisis meant the Isthmian League premier division was declared null and void. He scored once in eight outings.

The 20-year-old’s technical ability on the ball is an attribute that impressed Robbie Blake.

But standing at 6ft 8in, Bognor's first-team coach believes Casey must start using his imposing stature to his advantage.

Blake said: ‘Technically, Matt is very good.

‘He can pick a pass, can use both feet and is technically very good.

‘Matt’s still very young and still has a very good chance of having a professional career, but he has just got to become that bit more aggressive.

‘I’ve said to him that he has to become more of a focal point in the dressing room. Because of the size of him and stature, it will bode well for him going forward.

‘That is the one bit of advice that I would give him.

‘He’s got all of the height and the physicality but, as a person, he just needs to bring it out of him.’

Having also had stop-start loans at Weymouth, Gosport and Basingstoke in his career, Blake feels a settled season playing for one team would hugely benefit Casey.

The ex-Pompey coach added: ‘What Matt needs to do is play a full season of senior football.

‘To be fair to him, he’s gone here, gone there and not had a settled run. He needs to have a settled run somewhere.’