Pompey youngster Wilson signs new contract

Marc Wilson might not be a name that everyone knows - and I must admit that I have not seen him play but have only ever heard very good things about him - but I do have high hopes for him, which stretch back as far as last summer when I had hoped to see him in pre-season...



Anyway, the 20-year-old has signed a new 3-year contract today which has delighted me, but not as much as him, with him telling the Pompey site: 'I've just got to work hard in pre-season and see where it goes from there. But the plan is to push on and hopefully break into the first team.

'First of all I'd just love to play football, but Europe would be an even bigger step and would be amazing.

'I'm so happy to still be here. Everyone who came through the youth ranks with me has gone - I've seen many friends come and go so I'm delighted to be here for another three years.

'Football can be a cruel game - that's a harsh reality - so I've got to keep on working hard and do the best that I can do.'

We have to admit that quite often we look at Pompey now and think 'is this really the club that we have followed through the dark days?' But it is you know, and Wilson himself has seen a lot of chances over the past few years, and he cannot believe the strides forward we have made but he is delighted to be a part of it: 'the club's changed massively, especially in the last two years. When I first came here the club was completely different.

'Everything seems to be going well at the moment and Harry's a big part of that. He's a good manager and is great with the players. He's an absolute character.'

The Irish youngster, who has enjoyed loan spells with Bournemouth and Yeovil is a midfielder by trade, but can also play in defence, something which he says he actually prefers so I would be amazed if we do not see him make his 1st team debut for Pompey next season, something which he has not yet been able to do despite being an unused sub a couple of times last season - a season in which he was named the young player of the year!

I recently gave an interview in FourFourTwo magazine - more on this at a later date, it 'should' be out later this month! - and when asked about a player to look out for this season I had little hesitation in saying Marc Wilson, his being given a new 3-year deal seems to suggest I was right in thinking this...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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