Michael Smith nets as Pompey loan duo taste victory

The loan duo today turned out for the Blues in a behind-closed-doors match with Reading’s development squad.

Foster’s side ran out 3-1 winners in the fixture at the club’s Copnor Road training ground, with substitute Smith netting the third.

There were also goals for Conor Chaplin and Kal Naismith in a match which would also see the likes of Ben Davies, Adam Barton, Gareth Evans, Marc McNulty, Gary Roberts and Christian Burgess given run outs.

Freeman entered the action at half-time, while Smith climbed off the bench on 60 minutes.

And first-team coach Foster was delighted with the contribution of the pair, who started Pompey’s defeat to Leyton Orient last weekend.

He said: ‘It was a great strike from Smudge and was important for him and Kieron to get minutes.

‘Strikers even love scoring in training, it doesn’t matter what the level of match it is.

‘I don’t think Michael lacks confidence, I don’t think he should be lacking in confidence, he has come into the club and fitted in really well.

‘Kieron has played a lot of games this season but not a lot recently, so half a game yesterday would have helped.

‘He has been working really hard with our fitness coach Adrian Cooke to bring himself up to speed.

‘Kieron and Michael have just come to the club and are learning the structure of how play, so it’s important we give them minutes.

‘Our training sessions are high tempo and sometimes it’s good to get them involved in these types of games. The lads thoroughly enjoy them and all want to play.’