“He needs to step on,” says the Manchester City star assigned to improve Portsmouth’s performance…

As Alex Robertson’s Pompey form soars, he has been challenged to further up his game.

The Manchester City teenager needs more goals in his repertoire, according to Pompey manager John Mousinho, in order to be considered a complete player.
And when that occurs, the Australian will be a much more formidable force than he is right now.
In the midst of some continuously strong Blues play, Robertson put on an incredible man-of-the-match performance against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Although Mousinho believes the 20-year-old’s talent is evident, he still has a lot of growth left in him.

“I wasn’t surprised when Alex was named man of the match; it was well deserved,” he stated.

‘Again, if he could add a bit more at the top end of the pitch with goals,

‘He’s got a brilliant strike, and he’s got quality. We’re going to keep encouraging him to get into those positions.

‘From where he receives the ball right up to maybe that 18-yard box, his output is very, very good.

‘He glides past players and is positive while also being excellent in his defensive work as well. We never have any problems with that, his output, or how much he works off the ball.

‘I think he needs to keep working on all the things that have made him good this season.

‘One thing I would say is that even when he’s playing deeper, he’s getting chances, particularly around the box.

‘The only thing he needs to step on is when he does have an opportunity with his right or left foot, he puts the ball in the back of the net—or at least hits the target.

‘He was disappointed with a chance right at the end against Cambridge. It wasn’t an easy chance, but a player coming on to the ball with his quality wants to do better; he knows that himself.
‘When he does put all that together, you have a player playing well below his level.’

Pompey supporters are thrilled with Robertson’s performance in his 18 games thus far.

Mousinho believes that, given the caliber of the player’s performances, it is easy to ignore his relatively young age.

It’s easy to forget he’s just twenty years old and such a young man, he continued.

This is actually his first official loan. Although he played in three matches while in Scotland, this is his first official loan into a pressure-filled setting after playing for the under-21 team in a completely different setting. I believe he has truly excelled for us.