Tom Naylor: My Portsmouth housemate Andy Cannon is a joy to watch - and he's moved on from beans on toast!

Tom Naylor reflected on Andy Cannon’s scintillating form and declared: He’s a joy to watch.
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The former Rochdale midfielder has been a major factor in the Blues’ resurgent run of results.

Cannon was reduced to a bit-part role during the first half of the season and didn’t start a league game for three months.

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Before today’s League One trip to Tranmere, Cannon’s begun eight of the past 11 games and helped propel Pompey into the play-off places.

His high-octane performances have earned plenty of plaudits, with some sections of supporters questioning why he didn’t play more frequently earlier in the campaign.

Naylor currently shares a house with Cannon and revealed he didn’t get too downbeat when on the periphery of things.

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The captain would also ensure he’d continue to tell his team-mate his opportunity would come.

Andy Cannon, left, and Lee Brown. Picture: Joe PeplerAndy Cannon, left, and Lee Brown. Picture: Joe Pepler
Andy Cannon, left, and Lee Brown. Picture: Joe Pepler

Now first choice in the number-10 role, Naylor hailed the impact that Cannon has made.

He said: ‘He didn’t really mope around, to be fair.

‘It’s hard because he is a great player and if you don’t play then you're not going to be happy.

‘But he never moped around and we always had a laugh. We get on really well at the club and outside the club.

Andy Cannon. Picture: Joe PeplerAndy Cannon. Picture: Joe Pepler
Andy Cannon. Picture: Joe Pepler
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‘I would have a word with him now and again that his time would come and it has.

‘We brought him to this club for a reason. He didn’t play straight away but we knew we’d need him and the gaffer knew what his capabilities were.

‘Now he's playing week in, week out, he is a joy to watch. Sometimes you might have to take him out the team and then put him back in, but that’s just football.

‘You can’t play every game but when that happens he’ll be fresh and is unplayable.

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‘Andy likes the number-eight position but he is so effective in the number-10 role. When he gets the ball, he drives at people, has great feet and can pick a pass.

‘We haven’t really got someone in there who can do that. He’s the only person with his ability who can carve people open and he is a strong lad, as well.

‘He gets on the ball and makes people move, which is good and opens space up players can run into.

'He just wants to get on the ball and if he loses it, he'll try to get it back.’

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Cannon’s been living with Naylor in his Waterlooville home since the summer.

The skipper quipped when his housemate first moved in that he was on a two-month trial, having asked how to cook baked beans.

Cannon’s successfully impressed his landlord to earn a permanent stay, though, now he’s moved on to slightly more complex meals!

Naylor added: ‘He’s moved on now from beans on toast – he's on cheese on toast now!

‘In all seriousness, he’s doing well and is good to live with. It's company for both of us.’

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