Thomas wary of Cherries return

The 25-year-old maintained his sensational loan-spell form for the Blues with a goal in Saturday’s 3-1 success over Shrewsbury.

He broke the deadlock in the 55th minute to pave the way for a fourth Pompey win in their past five league games, with Izale McLeod then netting twice.

For Thomas, it is now three goals in six games during an initial month-long stay which ends after next Monday’s trip to Sheffield United.

Michael Appleton is desperate to keep one half of a strike force which has now yielded nine goals over the past three weeks.

Similarly, Thomas – who has yet to hear from new Cherries boss Eddie Howe – would welcome extending his time at Fratton Park.

Yet he fears he may once again find himself out of the side upon his Dean Court return.

He said: ‘The reason I came here was to play football as I wasn’t playing down at Bournemouth.

‘I wanted to get some games under my belt and hopefully show people what I can do at this level.

‘I played the first few games of the season at Bournemouth and thought I did well. It was just that I never scored and the manager thought he would change it about.

‘There were so many strikers at that time looking to play – eight of us – so if you are not scoring goals then you are going to be out of the team.

‘I needed an amount of games to get going and I’m showing that now, but I knew I would score goals.

‘It was just about getting a run of games and my match fitness up.

‘I haven’t spoken to anyone at Bournemouth at the moment, we will have to wait and see. To be fair, they have won the last few games.

‘The most important thing is I need to be playing games.

If I want to do anything this season I need to be playing, I can’t be sitting on the bench.

‘At the end of the day, there is no point bringing me back and not playing me.

‘It’s not going to help me and it’s not going to help them, really.

‘Bournemouth is my club, there are a lot of good people there. I don’t mind going back – but it is about if I am going to play.’

After an insipid first half on Saturday, suddenly the match burst into life after the break.

Thomas and McLeod gave Pompey a 2-0 lead, before Marvin Morgan pulled one back.

The striker was sent off barely 60 seconds later, reducing Shrewsbury to 10 men for the final 29 minutes of the match.

However, Pompey had to wait until stoppage time for McLeod to seal the result with his second of the game.

It was Thomas’ strike partner’s ninth goal of the season. And clearly there is no stopping the in-form Pompey duo at the minute.

Thomas added: ‘Izale’s on fire at the moment.

‘He scored two great goals – one a beautiful dink over the keeper and another with his weaker foot, supposedly.

‘We didn’t play particularly well but we got the three points.

‘You can play better than that and not get the result. Although there is room for improvement.’