Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett has raved about the form that Andre Green has showcased since he was recalled by Aston Villa in January.
Green, 20, spent most of the first half of the season on loan at Fratton Park, but only managed to make 12 appearances across all competitions for Pompey due to injury.
He did impress despite his limited appearances on the south coast, and has continued to impress since returning to Villa Park.
Jackett is delighted to see Green doing well in the Championship and has suggested it was the correct decision by Villa to recall their young attacker.
“We would have loved for him to continue with us, but that’s the system. He has gone back to Aston Villa, he’s [a] Villa boy, definitely,” the ex-Wolves manager said, as quoted by The News.
“He will be proud to play for them – and I have seen he has risen to it.
“Andre came here with a big reputation and we spoke well of him, but there was that injury for a while. I do think by the end everybody could see he was a really good player.”
OPINION
Green has done very well since returning to Aston Villa. It is a shame for Portsmouth that he was recalled because he was showing some good form for them, but Dean Smith has been proven to have made the correct decision to get the England Under-20 international back in the winter. Since then he has played regularly for the Villans, starting six times in the Championship as well as appearing eight times off the bench. Jackett’s praise about Green is spot on because it is clear now that he is a cut above League One and Portsmouth were lucky to have the winger this season, even if he was only available for a few matches. If Aston Villa fail to win promotion this season then you can see Green having a key role in Villa’s attack next term. However if they do get promoted, his role may diminish and loaning him out to a Championship club could be a good idea. Portsmouth are fourth in League One at the moment and could be promoted themselves. They would surely have Green back next term if that scenario plays out.