Why Portsmouth are eager to convert Marcus Harness into a centre-forward

The talented 24-year-old was handed a positional switch at Burton last weekend – and responded with his second career hat-trick.

Joe Gallen has revealed Harness did not actually fulfil a number 10 role at the Pirelli Stadium that day, as widely perceived.

He claims Kenny Jackett instead instructed the winger to operate alongside the recalled Ellis Harrison as part of a two-pronged attack in a 4-4-2 formation.

Harness can be expected to retain the position against League One bottom club MK Dons on Saturday.

And Gallen is adamant the former Brewers man possesses the qualities to become an effective centre-forward on a permanent basis.

Pompey’s assistant manager told The News: ‘At Burton, the manager told Marcus to play up front with Ellis and have some freedom. To play it as you see it.

‘Marcus has centre-forward tendencies, centre-forward skills and is able to create goals as well. His finishing on a daily basis is excellent, as good as anyone at the club.

‘I don’t mind going on record and saying I’m not too keen on number 10s because sometimes you can’t get a lot out of your number 10.

‘But if you are playing centre-forward and your natural game is coming towards the ball, you start off up front and then drift into pockets of space and positions between their back four and midfield.

‘It may look like that once you receive the ball you are playing in this so-called 10 position, but it’s your movement that has taken you in there.

‘With Marcus, it’s something which has been on the cards and the manager decided he was going to do it, so well done to him.

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‘Marcus is an offensive player and, normally, offensive players don’t want to be coming too far over the halfway line.

‘The closer they can get to the goal and be able to attack, the better. He very much has a centre-forward’s mentality.

‘If you play in the wide areas, you have some tracking back to do and it takes you back into the defensive third. No centre-forward wants to be back in that defensive third.

‘I think that suited Marcus at Burton, but it’s only one game and he has to do it again.’

Representing Harrison’s first start of the season, he combined impressively with Harness in the 4-2 success at the Pirelli Stadium.

Following success on that occasion, it’s a partnership which will obviously be retained against MK Dons on Saturday.

Gallen added: ‘At Burton it was a 4-4-2, which is something we haven’t really played too much.

‘A lot of people talk about systems, but it can look like 4-4-1-1 with him coming into the hole, so I understand.

‘A couple of times he spun in behind as well, which is difficult to do from the number 10 position.

‘He scored his hat-trick from playing up front with some freedom.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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