Duncan Barkes

In Ireland, RTE report the following.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimer Holgrimsen has called up on-loan Portsmouth winger Malenik Ali for Tuesday's friendly against North Macedonia.

It's a first call-up for the 26-year-old, who joined the Championship club from Luton Town until the end of the season in January.

The explosive attacker has impressed at Fratton Park in his 14 league outings since the start of the year.

Dublin-born Ali joined Luton Town from Exeter City in January 2025, for a fee reported to be £1.5m .

Ali linked up with the squad this morning for his first training session as preparations continue for the clash at Aviva Stadium.

Following the World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Czechia on penalties, Hallgrimson said that Sami Samodics, who was briefly rendered unconscious following a collision deep in extra time, has left the squad, while Ipswich midfielder, midfielder Jack Taylor, a surprise starter in Prague, remains a doubt.

Hallgrimson confirmed the 27-year-old has returned home to be with his wife, who has fallen ill.

After Tuesday's game, Ireland are scheduled to face Granada and Mercia on 16 May, followed by Qatar in Dublin on 28 May, and Canada in Montreal eight days later.

The preponderance of doom, gloom and pessimism which enshrouds Pompey's current circumstance has resulted in a blind focus on the team's shortcomings in recent games.

Consequently, all eyes are on Pompey's poor goalscoring record, as well as the lack of victories and the lack of points over several games.

In places newcomer Ebo Adams is being tipped as a possible recipient of Pompey's Player of the Year award.

And, while he would be worthy in the eyes of many, there are surely other blue shirts who can lay claim to the annual honour.

Admittedly Pompey's goalscoring record is dire, only Sheffield Wednesday have scored fewer, and that's a mere one goal fewer at that.

But our defensive record, habitually overlooked by commentators and reporters, tells a positive tale about Pompey's defence, and of the success that they have consistently enjoyed in denying the opposition.

Even taking into account QPR, Pompey's defensive record is better than, for example, that of Hull City, who sit fifth in the championship table.

Prior to the QPR debacle, Pompey had conceded 48 goals putting them in ninth place in the goals conceded table.

These revelations prompt Pompey Sound to give a shout-out for Connor Ogilvie as Pompey's player of the season, not only one of the best left-backs in the league, but an ultra-reliable emergency centre-half, who, after injury, has spent most of his season in the No.

5 role.

Adams is held up by his supporters as a typical Pompey hero, but so is Ogilvie, and unlike Adams, Connor's been doing the business in a blue shirt for longer than anybody currently on the books at Fratton Park.