Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Harry hails Johnson displays

12 Mar 2008 - 08:51:39

Click To Enlarge

Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson is the best right-back in England according to Fratton Park manager Harry Redknapp.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a first-team regular since joining Pompey on a permanent basis last summer, having spent last season on loan on the South Coast.

Johnson had previously seen his career stall as he struggled to make his mark with Chelsea, a move which saw him drift out of the England national team picture after winning five caps.

Redknapp said: "He is the best right-back in the country. He is an outstanding player. He lacks concentration at times, but when he is switched on he has got everything.

"He is quick, powerful, has great ability for a right-back to run and dribble with the ball, he can cross it and is good in the air.

"There have been times when he has switched off and been a bit casual and has paid the price for it, but he is learning.

"We make him feel important here and he is important for us. At Chelsea, if he made a mistake he was out of the team and it is very difficult to play football when you are under that type of pressure all the time.

"Here he knows that it will take a nightmare run of games for him not to play. I would be surprised if he was not in the next England squad."