It has been stated to Haji Mngoa that in order to secure a Pompey future, he must have a significant influence in the National League this season.
In order for the longest-serving senior Blues player to be awarded a new contract, John Mousinho is adamant that he must be the “outstanding” talent in the fifth division.
Though he is only twenty-one, Mnoga is the player who has spent the most time on the first team since making his debut in October 2018 at the age of sixteen under Kenny Jackett.
Currently on loan at Aldershot, the young player from Somers Town has made 13 appearances and scored two goals during his second term at the Recreation Ground.
Mousinho acknowledged that he had heard good things about the Tanzanian international’s play, but he still needed to perform well if he wanted to stay at Pompey through the summer of 2022, when his current contract expires. “Rich Hughes has seen Aldershot a few times, but I haven’t been able to see them,” he stated regretfully. Boardman Phil has also visited them on a few occasions.
Aldershot is quite happy with Haji and appreciates the work that he is producing. Naturally, it helps that he is returning to a team where he was a member the previous season and feels right at home.
It’s a very good one for him because, in order to push himself back into the league, the most crucial thing for him to do this season was to attempt to go out and play games and truly thrive at that level. Every report I’ve received has been favorable.
Haji’s contract expires in the summer, so he needs to make the most of his time on loan. That applies to all of our loans, but it especially applies to Haj because he has been an expert for a few years.
I believe he needs to be the best player in the National League if he wants to make the Portsmouth first team the following season, no matter what level we play at. That presents him with a challenge. “He would really need to stand out at that level if we were going to take a player from the National League, so that’s what we expect from him if he wants to come back and play.”
When Mnoga made his senior debut with Pompey while still a youngster, it was clear that he had promise. The criticism was directed against the former student of Trafalgar School, who had to improve his mindset after receiving two senior red cards.
However, Mousinho believes he has seen improvement from Mnoga in that area, without compromising his inherent aggressiveness.
Haji is an aggressive young man, which is something we need to work with, and that’s fantastic. We’ve talked about wanting aggression both on and off the ball. You have to make sure you do it, and he’s done a great job of that this year, for sure.
“Haji had settled down from that point of view when I had a good spell with him in pre-season,” he continued. Although I am aware that he received a few rash red cards early in his career, I didn’t notice any mental health difficulties in him.
