I am not suited to wing-back system – Blues’ goal hero
MICHAEL JACOBS admits he isn’t suited to Danny Cowley’s current playing system.
Now Pompey’s Priestfield Stadium match-winner is eyeing reinventing himself as a number 10 to force his way back in.
The 30-year-old has found himself out of the team since the Blues’ head coach reintroduced his back-three formation.
Effectively the wing-backs provide the width rather than wingers, meaning the likes of Jacobs cannot be accommodated.
The former Wigan man was introduced for Reeco Hackett in the 81st minute against Gillingham, instructed to occupy the number 10 position.
And he popped up in the second minute of time added on to secure Pompey’s sixth straight win, albeit via a significant deflection off Gills defender Jack Tucker.
Jacobs told The News :‘Asa wide man, it’s a difficult formation for me to get in.
‘You are a bit limited unless you become a wing-back or an attacker or a number nine or whatever – and we have good options in those areas.
‘I probably could play wing-back, I’m not too sure how well, but I will do a job there for a team.
‘As a winger, it doesn’t suit the system. However, I came on against Gillingham as a number 10 and that’s definitely a role I can do.
‘Obviously Marcus (Harness) has been in fantastic form and is probably the in-form player in the division and is doing really well.
‘But the number 10 role would be most suited to me in this system and, whenever I come on, I just try to make an impact.
‘It’s a role I’ve done before and can do, you’ve just got to make things happen.
‘We had a front two of Ellis (Harrison) and Ronan (Curtis) at the end, so you have a bit of a platform to get the ball into them, try to play off them and try to get into those areas.’
Since losing 4-0 to Ipswich last month, the Blues are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions and have won six on the spin.
And two of those have been successive away wins – achieved lining up with a back three.
Jacobs added: ‘We are doing great with this system and are strong at the back.
‘Kieron Freeman has been fantastic coming into the team in the last two games and shown his quality, while obviously Connor (Ogilvie) has done a fantastic job.
‘(Gills forward) Big John Akinde is a handful and they dealt with him very well on Saturday.’