"Wouldn't be surprised" - Portsmouth FC favourite tipped for potential Fratton Park exit | OneFootball

FLW’s Pompey fan pundit has weighed in on the winger’s future

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Portsmouth fans have been left to ponder what the future holds for Paddy Lane after a frustrating debut season in the Championship was cut short by injury.

The 23-year-old winger, a standout performer during Pompey’s League One-winning campaign with 12 goals, struggled to make the same impact following the step up.

Having finally begun to find his feet - including his first second-tier goal on New Year’s Day against Swansea - Lane’s momentum was halted by a knee injury in January that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Boss John Mousinho has expressed confidence in Lane’s recovery, but with talk of squad overhauls and potential surprise departures, some supporters are questioning whether the Northern Irishman still has a future at Fratton Park.

Paddy Lane faces uncertain future at Portsmouth amid injury setback

With transfer season rapidly approaching, Football League World asked our resident Pompey fan pundit, Miltos Ioannidis, whether Paddy Lane was a player best sold in the summer, or if he still had a part to play in the upcoming campaign.

“Look, we talked the other day about how we might see some surprising departures in the summer and my gut feeling says that Paddy Lane could be one of those departures.” Ioannidis told FLW.

“I definitely don’t think we have seen the best of Paddy Lane in the Championship, he was one of the integral members of the League One winning team, and he’s just had a season hindered with injuries, bad luck, bad run of form, as a collective not just him, and I am under no impression that Paddy Lane is a bad player, or that he couldn’t do a job for us.

“However, football is a cruel sport, and exactly because maybe we will be looking to improve and buy value in players that are ready for the Championship now.

“He may be one to leave - I love Paddy, I really do, I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet in the Championship, but with talking about surprising outgoings, one of them could be Paddy Lane.

“I think that his future holds a big career in football for Paddy Lane, I just don’t know if that will be at Pompey or not.

“Hopefully, my hope is that he stays, he comes back fit and he is the Paddy Lane he was in League One, and what I will say - before he got injured in mid-January and was sidelined for the rest of the season - he was just starting to get back to being his old self.

“I remember he scored his first Championship goal on New Year’s Day against Swansea, he was starting to get some momentum back and I felt like his injury hindered that momentum as well.

“So let’s see - who knows - I’d love him to stay, personally. One of my favourite players, he wouldn’t be a surprise outgoing, I wouldn’t be surprised - I’m prepared for anything this summer. That’s my take on him.”

Paddy Lane’s exit would likely prove unpopular with Fratton Park faithful

Paddy Lane remains a respected and well-regarded figure among the Pompey faithful.

While his first Championship campaign has been disrupted by injury and inconsistency, there is a prevailing belief that he has more to offer and was beginning to show signs of progress before his setback.

Should he depart this summer, it may not come as a complete surprise given the club’s potential need to strengthen.

However, such a move would likely prove unpopular, with many Portsmouth fans still hopeful that Lane can return fit and play a meaningful role next season - he remains an unpopular candidate for the exit door.