JAMAL LOWE

CLUB: Portsmouth POSITION: Winger AGE: 23 VALUE: £600,000

WHAT HAS HE GOT?

AFTER a chequered early career on loan from Barnet at Boreham Wood and St Albans City, Lowe was eventually signed from Hampton and Richmond Borough. He had flourished there and his goalscoring record persuaded Portsmouth to take him on their professional staff. Lowe (below) looks younger than his 23 years and he has been making an impression skipping down the right for Pompey. A bit of a late developer, he is right-footed but more than prepared to come across his full-back, open up the angle and strike a left-footed shot. Indeed he did this and scored against Wigan on Monday evening. On two other occasions he was thwarted, once with a pile driver and once with a cunning curling shot. Certainly when attacking his full-back he looks confident enough in his footwork to drag him and face him at an angle to make room to take the ball on the outside of his right foot. He is well balanced and when tackled heavily he rode the challenge and stayed on his feet. When I saw him on another occasion, it was a good day for Portsmouth and this made it easier for him to play with a smile on his face. But his elusive movement down the line brings its own pleasure. He worked back, too, and made himself available to receive, always prepared to work with his colleagues in neat triangles. He produced two super, fast, low crosses into the six-yard box, both converted at the back post. For the first he had raced forward on the inside shoulder of the left back on to a well-timed pass. When confronted by the goalkeeper he kept his balance, was forced wide but maintained his composure to deliver superbly.

WHAT DOES HE NEED?

HE has only been at Portsmouth since January 2017, so he does lack experience and this may catch up with him at some stage. He may need to walk before he can run on occasions. He also needs to pay attention to the physical side of the game and ensure he has adequate strength. But these are very small points. He has taken to League One football very well and has been a find. Hopefully he will learn quickly as he comes up against more canny fullbacks, but so soon after his emergence at this level he looks a really shrewd acquisition.