Cook serves up Pompey academy boost

Portsmouth manager Paul Cook has today earmarked Conor Chaplin for a new contract, showing Pompey fans the Academy is bearing fruit. 

Chaplin’s performances in both League and Cup since his first appearance last season have earned him a new contract and shown the high level of talent at Fratton Park.

Chaplin was instrumental after being introduced as a substitute in last Saturday’s win against Luton and scored the winning goal in the League Cup against Derby County in the first round of the League Cup. Chaplin’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by Pompey boss Cook who spoke to the Portsmouth News today about awarding 18-year-old a new deal:

“Of course we want to give Conor a new contract. He is a smashing kid and it is something we are looking at. When you look at Conor, he epitomises what is good in the game and that is great for us all. He’s a great kid around the place.”

Conor Chaplin celebrates his winning goal against Derby. Picture: Portsmouth News.
Conor Chaplin celebrates his winning goal against Derby. Picture: Portsmouth News.

Chaplin’s proposed new deal adds to the contracts given in the summer to fellow first-teamers and Academy graduates Ben Close and Adam Webster. Cook also showed his belief in the younger members of the Blues’ Academy with Calvin Davies, Brandon Haunstrup and Brandon Joseph-Buadi all starting Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint trophy game against Exeter.

The new contracts and starts for Academy players shows the legacy of the 2014 fan funding project to build a new home for Pompey’s youngsters. £270,000 was raised by followers of the South Coast club and that money is now beginning to bear fruit.

Meanwhile Chaplin is looking to force his way into Cook’s team to play Accrington Stanley with many of the Fratton Faithful keen to see the young striker play from the start against Stanley.

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