Chaplin loan 'a massive bonus' for Pompey - Evans

Former Portsmouth midfielder Gareth Evans believes it was inevitable Pompey's loan signing Conor Chaplin would return to the club.

Chaplin came through the Portsmouth academy to play for the first team when he turned 18.

Evans and Chaplin played alongside each other during the latter's first stint at Fratton Park, before the forward left for Coventry in 2019.

"I knew he was going to come back to the football club at some point," Evans told BBC Radio Solent.

"The only surprise is that he's come back so soon after leaving. You expected him to come back at the latter end of [his] career.

"[It's a] massive bonus for Portsmouth that they've got a Conor Chaplin who's in the prime of his career. He's scored everywhere that he's been and he's got that infectious personality that adds a little bit extra to the dressing room.

"To retain their Championship status and then top up the squad like he [boss John Mousinho] has done this transfer window with the numbers he's got in and the quality of player he's got in, who's to say Portsmouth can't aim for a mid-table finish."

Next up for Pompey is a south coast derby at St Mary's against Southampton on 14 September (12:00 BST). It's a rivalry which will be reignited in a league game for the first time in 13 years.

"I'm a little bit jealous not to be involved, it's going to be a fantastic occasion," said Evans.

"It's something to savour and hopefully Portsmouth can pick up all three points."

Southampton have not beaten Portsmouth in a league game since 2004 and Evans is predicting that run will continue.

"I'll go for 1-0 Pompey, Conor Chaplin [to score] of course," he added.

Listen to the full interview with Gareth Evans and more on Pompey on Sounds.