In-demand Wallace content after Pompey breakthrough

Jed Wallace, right, pictured with David Connolly, has had plenty to smile about in recent months Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues midfielder has spoken of his contentment at Fratton Park after establishing himself in the first team last season.

Wallace has found himself the centre of transfer speculation, having bagged six goals over a flying second half of the campaign.

Brighton are among those who have shown interest in the 19-year-old this year, along with the likes of Port Vale.

Blues boss Guy Whittingham has already admitted he doesn’t know if Wallace will be at Pompey next season.

Wallace, who is currently on duty with England’s under-19s in Belgium with Adam Webster, echoed that sentiment. But he spoke of his happiness at playing regularly under Whittingham, after Pompey invoked a clause in his contract to extend his agreement for another year.

Wallace said: ‘Being with England is making me hungry to get back into club football next season.

‘I’m just looking forward to getting back into that again and the consistent training.

‘They’ve taken the clause so I’m waiting to speak to Guy to see what happens.

‘I’m not sure what will happen. As it stands, I will be at Pompey because that’s where my contract is.

‘I’m concentrating on England and then getting back to club football.

‘Then whatever will be, will be, at the end of the day.

‘I’m in a no-lose situation. I’m playing first-team football which is what I’ve been craving to do for two-and-a-half years.

‘So to finally be doing that means I can’t have any complaints about anything.

‘I was playing in front of 80 people at Hampton & Richmond a few months ago.

‘Now I’m being clapped off in front of 18,000 at Fratton Park against Sheffield United. That was the best moment of my life walking off the pitch.’

After a busy period of transfer activity at Pompey, Wallace believes a squad is being established that will make the club real contenders for the League Two title.

He is hoping some of the older heads who helped him so much last season will be staying put, too.

Wallace said: ‘I think next season will be very interesting when we’ve got a settled squad.

‘The gaffer has signed a few decent players and added them to the ones we already had. There looks like there will be a few goals in the team, as well.

‘If I can keep learning from the players at the club I’ll be happy with that.

‘There’s a lot of experience at the club. There were people like Ricardo (Rocha), Johnny (Ertl) and Gabor (Gyepes) last season. Ric has marked Ronaldinho at the Nou Camp in the Champions League semi-final. Come on!

‘You can’t not learn from people like that. They are all great people to learn from and have helped me.’