Duncan Barkes

You can stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Pompey fans are monitoring Oxford and Leicester closely and learnt the following this morning, which won't have spoiled their breakfast.

The newspapers in and around the Leicester area are full of it.

Portsmouth winger Gustavo Caballero is starting to build momentum in England, and his early impact is already being noticed beyond club level.

The 24-year-old, currently on loan from Santos, has been settling into life at Portsmouth in the Championship.

He has offered a detailed look at his first weeks in English football, speaking positively about the intensity of the game, his adaptation process, and his ambitions with the Paraguay national team.

On the pitch, Caballero is already being used regularly by Portsmouth.

He has made 10 appearances in the Championship so far, starting six matches and coming off the bench three times, with one unused appearance.

Across those games, he has played around 650 minutes, scoring one goal in the 3-1 win over Millwall.

He has mostly been used on the left wing, despite arriving as a right-sided attacker, which also highlights his tactical adaptation under the Portsmouth coaching staff.

While the numbers are still modest, his involvement shows growing trust from the coaching staff.

That is particularly relevant given the physical demands of the league and the adaptation period required.

There is also a clear structure behind his move.

As previously reported, Portsmouth hold an option to make the deal permanent.

The clause is tied to Caballero reaching a defined number of championship appearances, a target described in Brazil as achievable.

If triggered, the English club would pay around £4.25m for 80% of his rights.

That context makes his current run of minutes even more important.

Each appearance brings him closer not only to a long-term stay in England, but to a World Cup spot.

Of course Gustavo Caballero's progress has not gone unnoticed in Paraguay.

National team manager Gustavo Alfaro has now publicly praised the winger, and explained why he is firmly on the radar, as relayed by local journalist Nelson René.