Curtis key to ambitions
Gallen says winger is desperate to bring success to the club
JOE GALLEN has reiterated the importance of Pompey retaining the wing talents of Ronan Curtis.
As appears customary in transfer windows, the Republic of Ireland international can be expected to attract admiring glances.
This time last year, Reading and Blackburn were pursuing Curtis, who responded by instead signing a fresh three-and-a-half year deal to remain at Fratton Park.
He has continued to impress with the Blues, scoring eight goals in 24 appearances this term, although is presently selfisolating following a coronavirus scare.
Overall, the 24-year-old has netted 34 times in more than a century of Pompey outings since arriving in May 2018.
And Gallen is keen the Blues are able to continue calling upon Curtis to boost aspirations of reaching the Championship.
He told The News: ‘Of course it’s important to keep a player like him (Curtis).
‘Like a lot of players, he is very important to this team and loves it at Pompey. He desperately wants to get the club promoted, like we all do.
‘We have a very committed bunch.
‘His form has been very good this season, he has played very well.
‘Ronan has a lot of heart and a lot of passion for this club, he’s scored some good goals, some important goals and created some goals, that’s what Ronan lives for.
‘He is a big part of the team, a big part of the club and a big part of us trying to be successful.’
Pompey’s squad and staff were tested for coronavirus on Tuesday last week – with following-day results indicating an all-clear.
However, according to Gallen, Curtis subsequently fell ill on Thursday evening, on a scheduled day off for the players, ruling him out of Sunday’s trip to Bristol City.
And there have not yet been any fresh developments over his health.
Gallen added: ‘Ronan was tested last Tuesday, as we all were, and they all came back clear, which is really good.
‘Then he felt ill before the game at the weekend, which is disappointing because had he been fit and well he would have been playing.
‘Last week, we were in on Wednesday and off Thursday. He got ill on Thursday evening and I haven’t seen him since.
‘The process going forward is we are looking for Ronan to come back in this week and to be available for the weekend at Fleetwood.
‘The lads who played Sunday are back today. Hopefully he could be in today as well if he is well enough – or he’s back in Thursday because we’re off Wednesday.
‘Hopefully we can get Ronan back for the league game at Fleetwood.’