Portsmouth News

Azeez aims high as he lays down Blues hopes

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POMPEY new-boy Miguel Azeez has revealed his main target for the season is to gain promotion to the Championsh­ip.

The highly-rated 18-yearold joined the Blues on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal at the end of August and has admitted his focus is on taking the club back to the Championsh­ip for the first time since 2012.

Azeez made the move to Fratton Park after serving as captain of Arsenal’s under23s.

The 2021-22 League One campaign will be his first taste of regular senior football.

And he intends to make it memorable for both himself and his new employers.

Azeez said: ‘I have many personal targets but the main one would be to get the team promoted to the Championsh­ip.’

The midfielder has continuall­y played in higher age groups throughout his time with the Gunners’ academy, after making his under-18s debut at the age of 14.

The England under-20 internatio­nal believes he’s been able to flourish against older players due to his mentality – and he believes such experience­s will serve him well at Fratton Park.

‘For me, I always go into games with the belief that I’m good enough to be at the level I’m playing at,’ he said.

‘The main thing I’ve always had is confidence in myself, I know what I can do on the pitch so I try to take that into each game.’

Azeez’s versatilit­y made him one of Cowley’s top summer targets, and the youngster explained what the Pompey fans can expect from him.

He added: ‘I’m the type of midfielder that likes to score goals and register assists.

‘I really like to express myself in front of fans, and I hope to make the fans enjoy watching me.’

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