The Portsmouth player Barnsley loanee knew little about - but has tipped for big things

But the on-loan Barnsley midfielder is convinced Alex Bass will ‘kick on’ and play in the higher echelons of English football.

The keeper has made a superb impact since wrestling the Pompey No1 spot off Craig MacGillivray at Gillingham on New Year's Day.

Bass recorded seven clean sheets in 15 appearances, while his save percentage of 81.1 per cent was better than any of his Football League counterparts – even Liverpool’s Alison Becker.

The 22-year-old has an encouraging future ahead and is contracted at the Blues until the summer of 2023.

Bass is McGeehan’s selection for Pompey’s player of the season.

And with the Fratton academy graduate looking certain to play at least Championship football during his career, McGeehan is hoping it’s with Pompey.

The ex-Luton man said: ‘I like Bassy. I didn’t really know much about him beforehand because he wasn’t really playing.

‘He’s obviously a young goalie who is at a club like Portsmouth and is doing really well.

‘He’s one to watch for the future because I think that he is going to kick on.

‘It’s mad he hadn’t played a lot before but he's got a lot of quality and I can definitely see him playing at a higher level.

‘Hopefully Portsmouth can grow with him and he’s really good to have behind you.’

MacGillivray’s omission at Gillingham was a shock given he’d rarely made a mistake since moving to Pompey in the summer of 2018.

The ex-Shrewsbury ace quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite and his fine form earned him a breakthrough to the Scotland squad.

MacGillivray’s someone McGeehan also holds in high regard.

And the former Chelsea youth player believes goalkeeping coach John Keeley should take credit for helping put together such a strong department.

McGeehan added: ‘To be fair, Craig is a really good keeper as well. I played with him in a Leasing.com Trophy game and he’s also very good.

‘That department is pretty strong.

‘I think John Keeley, the goalkeeping coach, can take some credit for that.

‘He's good and works very well with them.’