What maiden Portsmouth goal means to Andy Cannon on return and his target for rest of season

The midfielder admitted it was a monkey off his back to end his 13-month wait for a Blues goal in the 3-1 win over MK Dons last night.

Cannon is adamant he wasn’t getting too weighed down by the search for a finish amid some strong form for Kenny Jackett’s side in recent months.

The 23-year-old made his return from three weeks out with a glute injury with a man-of-the-match showing at Fratton Park, as his team moved back into the play-off places and closed the gap on leaders Rotherham to five points.

Cannon shone in the number 10 position which he’s revelled in for Jackett’s men amid 22 appearances this term.

And after savouring his fourth-minute finish to get open his Pompey goal account, the former Rochdale is now after plenty more finishes across the season’s finale.

Cannon said: ‘I’ve definitely been waiting for that moment.

‘I’m glad I’ve got it off my back. I’ve scored and hopefully there’s a few more now before the end of the season.

‘I’m glad I’ve got it out of the way and I want to keep adding goals to my game.

‘The main thing is the three points now and it’s going to be like that between now and the end of the season.

‘I know I need to add goals to my game but the main thing is to keep getting the three points.

‘If you’re playing well and contributing that is the main thing.

‘I haven’t really been thinking about it (not scoring) but I was talking with Nayls (Naylor) and Ellis (Harrison) the other day and I did say I was going to score against MK Dons. I’ve reminded them about that and we’ve been having some banter in the changing room.

‘I’ve had a few weeks out now so I’m just glad to be back out there, and to top it off with a goal is brilliant.’

Cannon returned to the Pompey side as one of five changes for the MK Dons game, with Brett Pitman also brought in from the cold to sit on the bench.

The move by Jackett paid off as the Blues got their ninth home win on the bounce amid a frenetic period of games.

With his team on a run of 13 games in six weeks Cannon feels changing things up at times is a necessity.

He added: ‘We’ve got a lot of mid-week games and a lot of games coming up so everyone has be prepared to step in when needed.’