Loan switch being explored but end decision has to be right for youngster Mnoga
THE REACTION of former
Southend boss Paul Clark wasn’t dissimilar to most outside the Pompey bubble when he found out Haji Mnoga’s age.
Co-commentating for BBC Radio Essex, Clark was startled when discovering the defender was only 18.
Playing against Shrimpers players of a similar age, the difference in physique, strength and quality was marked.
Mnoga’s high-octane display in the Blues’ 3-0 victory over Southend earned him man-of-thematch plaudits.
What’s more, senior Pompey players who were substitutes at Roots Hall were also giving the Southsea lad rave reviews from the sidelines. Class is how one described him during a trademark foray forward.
Questions were understandably asked of Mnoga to Kenny Jackett while conducting his post-match media duties.
The youngster’s future has been a prominent talking point throughout the transfer window.
Pompey have been mulling over whether to send Mnoga out on loan or keep him around for the meantime.
There are National League clubs interested, although the Blues boss feels the England youth international is capable of meeting the demands of the Football
League.
At present, you get the impression that Jackett’s perched on the fence and has a quandary when deciding what to do with Mnoga.
But we’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of him leaving.
PROS
The most beneficial factor of allowing Mnoga to leave on loan would be a guarantee of regular minutes elsewhere.
While he’s highly thought of at PO4, featuring week in, week out still seems some distance away.
Callum Johnson arrived from Accrington earlier in the window. Regarded as one of the best right-backs in League One, he’s immediately become first choice and has made a decent impression.
With Mnoga likely to remain his deputy, there would be a concern that he’d stagnate and not get the minutes he needs.
One thing the former Trafalgar School pupil has yet to experience is coming up against senior opposition every week, with three points on the line.
There have been five EFL Trophy outings and sporadic games for Bognor, but a sustained spell playing in a competitive division has eluded him so far.
What’s more, there are plenty of Mnoga’s attributes that have impressed so far but, let’s not forget, he’s still in the infancy of his professional career.
And after being switched from central defence to right-back late on in the Blues’ youth ranks, there are still aspects he needs to hone in on. Those are particularly in the final third, with his crossing and shooting still requiring improvement.
But perhaps the most crucial factor of all is that he’s still only 18.
While he might be built physically to compete in League One, he’s still got plenty to learn. Mistakes need to be made for him to grow as a player, which will ultimately give him a better chance of establishing himself at PO4.
CONS
The hesitation behind allowing Mnoga to depart is due to the congested and condensed fixture list of the season.
A spate of defensive injuries could potentially leave Pompey short and exposed in defence, which would hit their promotion push.
However, it’s not just hamstring tears and calf complaints that the Blues are worried about these days.
Players testing positive for Covid-19 is a reasonable scenario to be wary of.
Already this season, we’ve seen League One rivals Peterborough, Charlton, Crewe and Shrewsbury be hit by coronavirus cases. We’re only four league games into the campaign. It'd be naive to think it’s not going to happen at Pompey.
Should a similar outbreak occur at PO4 – like it did in March when five tested positive - then it might well leave them decimated.
Meanwhile, the switch to a
3-4-3 formation at Southend also impressed, with Jackett admitting it comes into consideration for league games.
Mnoga’s qualities and performance at Roots Hall give him a reasonable chance of making his Football League debut if that system is again rolled out.
The requirement of energy and having the knack to bomb up and down the flank is required from wing-backs, which Mnoga showed against the Shrimpers.
Not only do they need to contribute going forward, but defensively those in the role need to be able to cover should a counter-attack be launched.
Mnoga made two superb lung-busting recoveries to win back possession at Roots Hall, underlining he can do both.
Finally, Pompey could potentially let James Bolton leave on loan to give them leeway in the playing budget and free up a squad berth.
A second-choice right-back will be needed – and the Blues would have an adept one waiting.