Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has called for patience with defender Madiodio Dia as he adapts to the demands of Championship football. The 22-year-old, who joined from FK Haugesund for £600,000 in January 2024, has made 10 appearances for Pompey but is considered a raw talent.

Mousinho pointed to Dia's unusual path as a key factor. "He’s actually very new to professional football in general," the manager said. Dia moved to Norway only in 2023, meaning this season represents his first sustained run of games at this level. His early outings, including debuts against Swansea and tough away trips to Middlesbrough, Norwich, and Stoke, were described by Mousinho as a "real baptism of fire." The manager's assessment comes as Portsmouth, currently 19th in the standings, have taken eight points from their first seven games, a run of form that includes just one win in their last five league matches.

Physical promise

The manager, however, is convinced of the 6ft 4in defender's potential. He believes Dia possesses the physical qualities to develop into a top centre-half capable of dominating games. Mousinho noted that when fully concentrated for 90 minutes, Dia has shown he can be a good footballer in a Portsmouth shirt. The challenge is finding that level of performance consistently, a task made more urgent by the team's defensive record of conceding 12 goals so far this season.

This need for reliability comes at a time when Portsmouth's defensive options are thinning. Benjy Arthur is out for three months with a back stress fracture, while Conor Shaughnessy is a concern after limping off in the recent 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers. Fans can check the latest on the injuries page. That result left Pompey 19th in the Championship table with eight points from seven games, a position that highlights the need for defensive solidity.

With those absences, Dia could be in line for a significant role in the upcoming south-coast derby away to Southampton on October 11. Mousinho's message is clear: the club invested in a project, not a finished product. The manager's previous backing suggests he sees Dia transitioning into a consistent Championship operator in time. Portsmouth's next test is that trip to St Mary's, where they will face a Southampton side currently sitting 13th. A look at the upcoming fixtures shows a challenging run of games ahead for Mousinho's squad as they seek to climb the table.

The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk