Pring ready to push on
Bristol City loan arrival seeking regular minutes at Fratton
CAMERON PRING surveyed his whirlwind Pompey arrival and insisted: I’m here to play regularly.
The Bristol City left-back yesterday afternoon arrived on a season-long loan – hours after signing a new threeyear deal with the Championship club.
He was immediately pitched into Pompey action, appearing after half-time in last night’s 4-0 success over Gosport.
The 22-year-old provides the left-back competition Kenny Jackett has been searching for and will now rival Lee Brown for a starting spot.
Pring spent last season on loan at League Two Walsall and has also featured at Aldershot, Hereford, Newport County and Cheltenham.
This represents his first time in League One – and he’s eyeing the Blues’ left-back berth.
Pring told The News: ‘I met with the gaffer on Thursday morning. He said he was interested and I couldn’t be more happy with it, to be honest.
‘I have come here to play. Anyone in football wants to play games.
‘The gaffer said I have to fight for it and I wouldn’t expect anything less. Lee Brown is a good player, I know all about him from his days at Bristol Rovers.
‘Competition is a good thing, he will enjoy the competition as well. People thrive off it, even in training, and that can only be good for Pompey.
‘It has been a challenge every year for me. Every year I’ve been stepping up and I think I’ve done well so far – this is now the next step.
‘I have grown as a person as well, I have adapted to every league I’ve been at and am looking to continue that.
‘The expectation this season is promotion. I want that on my CV and will try my best to achieve it.’
Pompey sprang a surprise at Privett Park by naming 10 of the side which started at Stevenage in the Carabao Cup on Saturday.
The sole change was penalty shoot-out hero Craig MacGillivray coming in for Alex Bass in goal.
Bass was unavailable anyway, after damaging his right ankle during his firsthalf appearance at the Lamex Stadium.
Half-time heralded 11 changes, with Reeco HackettFairchild and Ellis Harrison marking their comebacks from injury. Hackett-Fairchild would go on to net twice in the 4-0 triumph, with Ronan Curtis and Ryan Williams also among the scorers.
While Pring had his first outing as a Pompey player, despite not yet training with his new team-mates.
He added: ‘I am good defensively, but like to get forward as well.
‘I couldn’t do that as much last night because Reeco is a good player. You let him do what he’s got to do, he scored twice and got an assist.
‘I like to get forward, get beyond the winger, and put balls into the box.
‘Last year at Walsall I also played as left wingback, but I can defend as well.’
Although Pring arrives without any experience of playing at League One level, he did feature for Walsall in the fourth tier last term - making 25 appearances for them last term.