Wright is flying high with the Robins
LEICESTER City youngster Callum Wright has been named player of the month for Cheltenham Town after a barnstorming start to his second loan spell there, writes Jordan Blackwell.
Wright scored three goals and had three assists in six August appearances to help the Robins make a positive start to life in League One after promotion last season, while they have also progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup.
But after netting in his three previous League One outings, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder could not keep his scoring streak going into September as Cheltenham drew 1-1 with MK Dons at the weekend.
Striker George Hirst has not been able to make quite the same impact at Portsmouth, but has been backed by his manager to come good.
Hirst made his first start for Pompey in midweek as they lost 5-3 to Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy, the 22-year-old hitting the bar as he came close to his first senior goal in English football.
Before that, Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley gave him a show of faith, saying he cannot be judged on the 57 minutes of League One football he has played so far, with Hirst limited to four cameos off the bench for the south-coast club in the league.
“George is a young player with a point to prove and still trying to get fit,” Cowley said.
“He tore his hamstring in the second from last game of last season, so we knew when we picked him up that it was going to be a progressive period.
“It’s very difficult. Not many players get a profile as a super sub, unless you are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and of that ilk.
“He has talent, he has ability, he is going to be a good player. We are going to get him firing – and hopefully you can see it.”
Khanya Leshabela is still waiting for his first senior league start after he was an unused substitute in struggling Shrewsbury’s 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley.
In League Two, Tyrese Shade played 26 minutes off the bench in Walsall’s 1-1 draw with Bradford after returning from an injury that kept him out for three matches.