Adam May admits he needs to show he can be effective in defence and attack if he is to force his way into Pompey's midfield and stay there.

The 20-year-old has signed a new two-year deal at Fratton but currently looks a little way down the pecking order for a place in the engine room. But that's a challenge Nay relishes and he knows what he needs to do to meet it.

May told The News: ‘I’m really pleased to get another two years. It’s all you want at a club you’ve been at for a very long time. I’m just looking forward to what the season holds now.

'There’s a lot of talented midfielders at the club and it’s always going to be hard. But it’s another fresh start and fresh season. You have got to go back with the right mindset to have the ambition to get straight into the team and be in the starting XI every week.

‘There is a lot of good competition but there is a lot of good competition in every position at this club. I’ve just got to make sure I can take one of those positions. Every week, day-in, day-out, I work hard in training. I will come back as fit as I can and believe as a midfielder you have got to bring assists, good passing and then the defensive side of things.

‘You have got to be aggressive and compete well. That’s what the gaffer likes, someone who can compete in midfield. But you’ve also got to do the other side of things like getting assists and that’s what I’m hoping to do.

‘The last couple of years I’ve had a little taste of everything. I’ve been in and out (of the starting XI) but now this should be the year I can establish myself fully and hopefully get a full season of games in — that’s the ambition.’

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