RASMUS GIVEN COWLEY BACKING
Head coach lauds Dane ahead of possible return to starting XI
POMPEY’S ‘textbook’ defender has been backed to block out the negative headlines as he prepares for a return to the starting line-up.
Danny Cowley has given a ringing endorsement of both Rasmus Nicolaisen’s ability and mentality as he weighs up throwing in the Danish loanee against Burton Albion this afternoon.
The Blues’ head coach is preparing for the possible absence of Sean Raggett, after the defender suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone against Wigan on Easter Monday.
Nicolaisen, pictured above, looks the next in line after he replaced his fellow central defender at the DW Stadium, as Cowley looks to keep up his 100 per cent record since succeeding Kenny Jackett.
The 24-year-old has caught the eye of the head coach with his quality since his arrival, with Cowley acknowledging the defensive balance Nicolaisen gives Pompey, both in and out of possession, with his left foot.
He said: ‘He’s going to be a good player, he’s been really well coached.
‘You just look at the way he moves and his footwork, you can see he’s been well coached from a young age.
‘He’s almost textbook in the way he moves defensively.
‘In possession he has that ability to find a pass and has a nice range of passing, as well as step in, dribble and make passes.
‘More importantly, what I like when he came on against Wigan was his willingness to stop turns and also defend the frame of the goal. We like to have right and left foot balance in an ideal world. It’s something we look for.
‘Sean Raggett has played so much on his left in his career, he feels more natural there than he does on the right.
‘People think about the right and left balance, they think in possession.
‘But actually defending with your lead foot, backward movement, one v one moments and combination play, players normally naturally move better on one side than they do the other.
‘These things are considerations when you’re considering who to select at left centre-half.’
Nicolaisen found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons last week, when he was hit with a £2,500 fine for breaching FA betting rules after he staked just over £40,000 on 53 bets.
Cowley has addressed that issue and is confident that scenario’s had no negative impact on Nicolaisen’s game.
He added: ‘Young people make mistakes, old people make mistakes; it’s not the mistake which defines you, it’s your response to the mistake.
‘We’ve been really impressed with the way he responded and he’s a good kid.
‘We don’t always get it right. I never worry about people making mistakes, I just don’t like people making the same mistake twice.
‘He’s been focused in training, wants to get better and improve.
‘He’s a young boy who’s travelled across Europe to further his career. That says everything about his focus to be the best version of himself.’ football-related
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