Rose: Goals have always been part of my Pompey team-mate

And Danny Rose is convinced in-form Kyle Bennett can maintain his hot streak to continue Pompey’s promotion momentum.

Bennett has netted in each of his past four Blues appearances after discovering goals in his boots.

Having scored once in 33 appearances going into March, the 26-year-old is savouring the most prolific period of his career.

Crawley, Colchester, Grimsby and Newport County have all been on the receiving end, with each fixture yielding Pompey victory.

Paul Cook’s side currently sit in third spot – six point clear of Stevenage with seven matches remaining in League Two.

Their next task is represented by a trip to a Hartlepool side currently languishing in 21st.

And Rose is delighted his team-mate has added goals to his undoubted attacking ability.

He said: ‘Kyle’s always had goals in him, but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened for him.

‘Now he’s finding himself in the box a lot more often, so is getting into the position to score more – and the team is benefitting.

‘As you have seen over the last month, he can finish and has great composure.

‘It’s never easy going through one-v-one with the keeper and recently he has shown he can capitalise.

‘Kyle has that quality in the final third to either unlock a defence or finish off a chance.

‘There is inconsistency within a lot of players at this level, not just Kyle. There’s a host of talented players in and around this league but also non-league who are the same.

‘If they could produce and make the right decisions on a regular basis they would put themselves higher up the divisions.

‘You’d have to say that if Kyle kept that scoring form, hitting double figures regularly, which he is easily capable of, then I have no doubt he would be playing in a much higher division.’

Bennett has scored 12 goals in 88 appearances since joining the Blues as a free agent in May 2015.

He was an integral part of the side which last season reached the League Two play-off semi-finals before defeat at Plymouth.

This term Cook’s side are poised to clinch an automatic promotion spot during a strong finish to the campaign.

Rose was a member of promotion-winning sides at Oxford United and Northampton last season.

More than most, he is aware of what is required to cross that finishing line.

He added: ‘Obviously, we know promotion is not too far away.

‘People try to keep a lid on it in terms of not talking about it, but it remains taking each game at a time – that is the mindset, that is the reality.

‘I am not going to say how many wins we need. As long as the mindset is right we will do okay.

‘I haven’t worked out specifically how many wins are required but, with a six-point gap at the moment, we are in a strong position.’