PORTSMOUTH’S latest signing, Keshi Anderson, spoke with Solent Sports News’ David Howes about his move from Birmingham City and his ambitions for the rest of the season.
The 30-year-old attacker left the Bluenoses on the 14th January, after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
And then just under a week later, the former Watford academy product joined Portsmouth on a one-and-a-half-year deal until the summer of 2027.
Speaking on how he has adapted to life on the south coast, Anderson said: “It has been very windy and wet at the moment (he laughed), but I am hoping that improves.
“But now I am enjoying my time in regards to training and obviously the derby on Sunday (vs Southampton), it was a great way to start really.”
On John Mousinho’s project and philosophy, Keshi believes: “The way the gaffer spoke to me and just said the type of manager that he is and the type of manager he wants to be.
“How he wants the lads to be free in the sense of, you work hard, you dig deep, you run hard, and you put that kind of work in.
“He said, as an attacking player, I want you to be free, I want you to take your players on, I want you to enjoy your football, and that’s exactly what I want, and that aligns with me.”
Anderson has been in the building just over a week now, taking part in multiple sessions before last Sunday’s derby and ahead of Saturday’s visit of West Bromwich Albion.
On the intensity and quality within the camp, Anderson stated: “I would not say I was surprised (of the quality).
“Obviously, I know a few of the lads prior from playing against them, the quality is high, and I am hoping that with the lads that are not fit at the moment when they come back, they are only going to drive that even more.
“Training has been really good the last week, I think you can see that from the two results that the boys had.
“Unfortunate not to win at Watford and unfortunate not to beat Southampton, two very good sides in a Championship, and we are trying to maintain that standard and improve every day.”
The League One promotion winner, with both Blackpool and Birmingham, made his debut last Sunday, in arguably the biggest way possible, that you put on a blue shirt for the first time.
That was Portsmouth’s first south coast derby as a league fixture in over 14 years.
On how he found his first derby and where it ranks in terms of atmosphere, Keshi stated: “The atmosphere was incredible.
“In terms of rank, I have played in a lot of derbies or big games and whatnot, but in terms of that in itself, the stadium, how tight it is, and the noise for the entire 90 minutes was incredible and top from them (the fans).”
Keshi was slightly familiar with midfielder Andre Dozzell, as the two played with each other for six months in the same season that Birmingham City got relegated to League One in the 2023/24 season.
“I know Ebou (Adams) just from outside of football, and I know Dozza (Andre Dozzell), having spent six months or so with me at Birmingham.
“I have played against a few of the lads over the years, so I am familiar enough with the group.”
Predominantly known as a left winger, Anderson can play in a whole host of positions, including attacking midfield, right wing, and, during his time at both Swindon Town and Blackpool, played as a wing-back and even central midfielder.
“In my sense, it would be on the left or as a 10 just because of the style of football that we have, where it is sometimes a little bit off the cuff.
“So picking the ball up in certain areas and being able to exploit that, working off the likes of Colby (Bishop), who is incredible with his body and the work rate that he does as a nine.
“Without the work that he (Colby) does, it is impossible to actually utilise the space around the pitch with the wingers and the number ten and as well as the midfielders picking up balls off himself.
“In the ten is preferably my best, but I have played off the right, and I have played many positions on a football pitch like throughout my career.”
Ahead of Saturday’s tie at home to West Bromwich Albion, Keshi believes: “They are an established championship team, obviously, going through a bad stage at the moment.
“Like us ourselves, we are in a similar position, but I feel like we are in a better place.
“We have got a few injuries that players need to come back, which will help us progress a lot.
“But in the space of the last week or so with the Watford game and the Southampton game, we have had two good draws against two good teams in the league are higher up in the table which we should have really beaten.
“We will be going into the game full of confidence and wanting to start a good run of games and fixtures where we have a Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, where if we can pick up two or three wins on the bounce, it can keep that momentum going.”
Finally, in terms of ambitions for the remainder of the season and his Pompey career, Keshi added: “The aim for me is just to enjoy my football, enjoy the area, get to know Portsmouth a little bit, the fans, and then improve on the position that they finished last year, which was around 16th.
“I think as a team and from everything I have seen so far, that as a collective, we are more than capable of doing that.”
