Portsmouth FC

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Begovic pens Pompey deal

09 Jul 2008 - 12:24:20

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Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has penned a new three-year deal with the club and is determined to challenge veteran shot-stopper David James for a regular starting spot.

The 21-year-old has still to make a first-team start for Harry Redknapp's side since joining the club's youth team ranks five years ago.

However, he was a regular on the substitute's bench in the second half of last season, and also has first-team experience thanks to loan spells with Macclesfield Town, Bournemouth and Yeovil Town.

Begovic told Pompey's official website: "It's a nice honour to be wanted here. I've been here a long time and there's not really a reason for me to want to leave, so I think it's a mutual decision to stay.

"It's a gradual thing. I started here with the youth team, then I was training with the first team and now I need to become established and go out and play and keep pushing up. That's what I want to keep trying to do.

"Competing for a place in the team is one of the most difficult things about being a keeper.

"It's hard with someone as good as David James in front of you, but it's good to see what he does, to learn from him.

"He's England's number one. He works hard, has different ways of doing things and you pick things up from him. We have a good relationship."