Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley offers assessment of Arsenal loanee Miguel Azeez's Blues debut after youngster starts in defeat against Cambridge United
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The on-loan Arsenal youngster was handed a Blues debut in Saturday’s game against Cambridge United at Fratton Park.
The midfielder was brought into the fold as the Pompey head coach freshened up his team after two consecutive league defeats and three League One games without a goal.
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Hide AdIt was a decision, along with the recall handed to Ellis Harrison, which went down well with the Fratton faithful, who have been eager to see the England under-20 international in action.
But it was a ploy that didn’t exactly go according to plan.
The Blues lost the game 2-1 – stretching their losing run to three in the division and four in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Azeez was one of two substitutions made by Cowley on 59 minutes – being replaced by Louis Thompson – as the hosts struggled to cancel out Joe Ironside’s 38th-mnute opener.
The 18-year-old was unable to find his passing range and was guilty of giving the ball away on occasions as Pompey toiled in their efforts to turn the screw on the visitors.
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Hide AdIn his post-match assessment of the game, Cowley admitted it was a tough start to Azeez’s Pompey career.
Yet, he said the player would learn from the experience as he conceded that his team selection probably didn’t help.
Cowley said: ‘We played 4-3-3 today (Saturday) so we played with a six and two eights.
‘Miguel is such a young player who is finding his way in professional football.
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Hide Ad‘It was a tough start but this is the life of a professional footballer - it's not always easy.
‘But he's a top player and he will learn a lot from today.
‘And like I said, for us, we didn't get the team right - we accept that, have to take responsibility for that.’