Promising Chelsea talent Tino Anjorin has had a rather quiet introduction to life at Portsmouth, in stark contrast to the high expectations that surrounded his arrival.
Since joining the club just before the transfer window closed, he has played only 151 minutes in five appearances for the first team.
The fans are yet to witness the full extent of his potential, even though he was their 14th and final signing in a busy summer transfer period overseen by Sporting Director Rich Hughes.
However, it’s worth noting that Portsmouth can afford to exercise patience, as they are currently enjoying positive results and occupy the top spot in League One.
They have no pressing need to rush Anjorin onto the field. The team doesn’t need a savior at the moment, so there’s no urgency.
This situation has given the 22-year-old player the opportunity to gradually adapt to the training routine and his new environment, which is ideal, especially considering his injury-riddled start to his career and limited pre-season involvement with Chelsea.
It’s important, though, that both Anjorin and Chelsea don’t become frustrated by his limited playing time at a League One club. Season-long loans typically come with the possibility of recall in January, a fact Chelsea is well aware of, as demonstrated by Ben Thompson’s situation.
Portsmouth is currently on a six-match winning streak, and the competition for a spot in the lineup is fierce, irrespective of the player’s pedigree.
Anjorin not only needs to be physically prepared but must also earn his place in a team that is performing admirably, with Christian Saydee and Alex Robertson excelling in similar roles.
He did recently receive his second start for Portsmouth, playing in their most recent match against Gillingham in the EFL Trophy before the international break.
Anjorin made an impact by scoring his first goal for the team with a spectacular overhead kick. However, he was substituted at halftime as part of a planned move to gradually integrate him into the first team.
In his new role as a deeper midfielder alongside Ben Stevenson, with Saydee playing behind Kusini Yengi, Anjorin showed glimpses of promise.
He displayed his ability to carry the ball, engage in intelligent passing exchanges, missed one excellent scoring opportunity but then scored spectacularly.
It’s worth noting that, according to Wyscout analytics, over the course of his five appearances, Anjorin has made just four inaccurate passes, though only three out of ten dribbling attempts were successful.
While it might seem unusual to suggest that it’s still early days for a player who has been at Fratton Park for seven weeks, Anjorin is gradually building momentum from a relatively modest starting point. A little more patience in his development won’t hurt anyone.
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