Appy hails keeper ahead of loan deal

Mikkel Andersen has been hailed as a quality loan acquisition who can end Pompey's keeper dilemma.

The Danish under-21 international has been lined up for a season-long deal at Fratton Park.

While the Blues await the green light from the Football League to push a deal through, the stopper will continue to train with his club Reading.

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For Michael Appleton, though, there are no fears any other teams may attempt to gazump the agreement he has with Royals boss Brian McDermott.

The Pompey manager highly regards Andersen, who made 61 appearances during two separate loan spells at Bristol Rovers in recent years.

Appleton has been searching for a keeper all summer after his decision to let Jamie Ashdown leave Fratton Park at the end of last season.

And he believes the 23-year-old Andersen will make a big impact when he is finally allowed to join Pompey.

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Appleton said: ‘Mikkel is one we enquired about. I was not sure what response we would get from Reading and his agent as to whether he would want to come to League One or go in to the Championship.

‘But the response we got straight away from the boy himself and the agent was really positive.

‘The boy from day one spoke really highly about the football club which was a breath of fresh air. Everybody else at the minute seems to stick the boot in.

‘That helps me that here is a player desperate to come in to the football club.

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‘He has a good stature about him, is a Danish under-21 international and people speak very highly of how he works. Mikkel has got himself into fantastic shape after getting an injury at the back-end of last season and he is desperate to play league football and wants to come and play for Portsmouth.

‘I think it’s his presence which really stands out for me. He has a real good presence about him.

‘He is a big lad and if you have got a presence in your box, it gives not only our back four a lot of security but from an opposition attacking point of view, they are going to be less tempted to put balls into the box because they know they have someone who can come out and claim it.

Appleton added: ‘Everything has been agreed for a season-long loan.

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‘I know his agent very well, having played with him at West Brom, and we have agreed it in principle.

‘The lad will continue to train with Reading until we get the agreement to do something.’

Andersen has found his Reading first-team chances barred by Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy.

The keeper has not made a first-team appearance since joining the club as a trainee five-and-a-half years ago.

And Appleton reveals he is itching for regular football.

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He said: ‘They’re in the luxury position where they have three top-notch goalkeepers and can afford to let one of them go out on loan and play football.

‘I’m sure Mikkel is desperate to get as many games as he possibly can.’