Praise for Pompey ace comes with points to work on
Thursday, 30th Nov 2017 07:47 by pompey-fans.com staff

Kenny Jackett has praised Jamal Lowe's progess as a key attacker for Pompey this season - but has indicated he will go on pushing him to get better and better.

The wideman has been a regular starter for the Blues, mostly wide on the right, and Jackett has pinpointed him as a player who has the potential to play at Championship level.

But he has also identified areas of the former Hampton man's game that can see improvement in the coming months.

Speaking at some length about Lowe to The News, Jackett said: 'Early season Jamal got quite a number of goals, but hasn’t quite been the goal threat in the last 6-8 games. There was one cleared off the line at Luton, but he hasn’t quite got the strikes, hasn’t had the chances, shots and necessary goal threat.

‘However, in his first full campaign after last season making some cameo appearances and his debut, he has been a threat for us and a good player so far. Jamal has the physical attributes and power to get up and down, and I do feel in there is a Championship athlete, definitely.

‘We have worked on every aspect of his game, crossing, finishing and the right time to come off the line and bring the right-back into play. Sometimes it’s easy to double up on a player staying wide, therefore stopping the ball getting to him.

‘It’s a tough one for a winger sometimes. You can put in a lot of effort or yards without necessarily getting the ball, so you’re reliant on service and being able to get into it, I do understand that. He’s young, he’s new and whatever age the player is you want them to show improvement through working at both their strengths and weaknesses.

‘Jamal has played every single game he has been available for and shown good improvement. We have left him in, we have left Ben Close in, we have left Luke McGee in, we want them to aspire and improve.'

He added: ‘Jamal has to get back being a goal threat. You need goals and assists from the front four players as much as possible, while working for the team has to be a given for every single player. Jamal is very good, he works very hard, has a very good attitude and I do see someone with Championship potential athletically and fitness-wise.

‘The rest of his game, whether defending, attacking or whatever can be talked about, but really they are all there in the creation and scoring of goals.’