Charlton boss has massive praise for on-loan Manchester City keeper ahead of clash with Portsmouth

Charlton Athletic manager Nigel Adkins has described Gavin Bazunu as “exceptional” ahead of Portsmouth’s visit to SE7 this weekend.

The Addicks signed Craig MacGillivray from Pompey after the South Coast club opted against offering new terms to their reigning Player of the Year.

Instead to moved to take Bazunu on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 19-year-old has already been capped seven times at senior level by the Republic of Ireland.

Adkins, who filled the same position in his playing days, said: “They want to play out from the back through the goalkeeper – who is exceptional, by the way. I think he starred for the Republic of Ireland teams, didn’t he? He brings the ball out and distributes it very well. He plays like an outfield player. That makes them very expansive in how they want to build play. It makes them very dangerous.

“It’s quite interesting that even in League One, the Championship, League Two and the Premier League…a lot of teams play different formations now. Compared to just one or two formations. Teams are very flexible now. The opposition we play at the weekend have changed their formation in the last two games to match up how the opposition have set up.

“We have to understand at times they are going to have good possession of football. But likewise we have got to give them a threat. We have got threats about ourselves as a team. Let’s make sure we give ourselves an opportunity to score goals and be exciting in our play.”