Liam Walker is like a 'kid in a candy shop' according to manager Michael Appleton.

The Gibraltar-born midfielder has made a good impression just six games into his Pompey career and the 24-year-old has shown he has what it takes to succeed in the British game.

And on Sunday he had his family on the terraces at Crawley, including his mum, to see him make a second half substitute appearance. Although Gibraltarian through and through, Walker has family from Waterlooville, which has given his story an added twist.

Having been rejected as a youngster by a host of clubs, including West Ham, Averton, Coventry and Aston Villa, Walker has been given a second chance after impressing in the Gibraltar national XI's 4-0 thrashing of Pompey in pre-season.

'Liam has got a bit of a tenacious side about him as well, which I quite like,' Appleton told the Sports Mail. 'But the biggest thing I like about him more than anything else is he is just desperate to play football.

'He is like a kid in a candy shop - you just have to puyt the reins on him. His progress is exciting, it's like a filn. It's a nice story and captures everyone's enthussiasm. we will have to look after him as best we possibly can.'

Walker has started in three games so far, at Colchester and Carlisle and at home to Oldham.

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