Exclusive: What Lee Hendrie thinks about Portsmouth FC re-signing Abu Kamara..
Lee Hendrie believes that an Abu Kamara and Portsmouth reunion could be beneficial to both club and player, as the 21-year-old winger would be offered more game time at Fratton Park.
Kamara was one of the standout performers in Pompey’s promotion out of League One whilst on loan from Norwich, but missed out on signing him permanently last season after Hull City parted with £4.5 million to bring him to the MKM Stadium.
The 21-year-old’s debut season in East Yorkshire wasn’t plain sailing as Hull struggled near the foot of the Championship table, and Portsmouth “would love” to re-sign Kamara if the Tigers decide to part ways with him this summer, per a report from the Hull Daily Mail.
With the likes of Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi set to return from injury at the start of the season, too, the winger position at Hull could become crowded soon enough. Current Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes that, if the chance comes, he should return to the side that gave him his breakthrough in the EFL.
Lee Hendrie believes Abu Kamara would be a good signing for Portsmouth
Lee Hendrie
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Lee Hendrie said: “I do think Abu Kamara is a good potential signing for Portsmouth as he’s a player that really does need game time.”
Kamara featured 36 times in the Championship for Hull City last season, but did start just 25 games.
“Obviously you’re not guaranteed game time anywhere, but when he was at Portsmouth, he was a really good fit,” he continued.
“He’s one with potential, there’s definitely no doubt about that, and I think Portsmouth will need players throughout the season as they have arguably less squad depth.”
Whilst Josh Murphy shone on the left wing throughout the season for John Mousinho’s side, Portsmouth lacked a real presence on the right at times.
Abu Kamara’s 2023/24 League One stats for Portsmouth, per Transfermarkt
Games (starts)
46 (37)
Goals
8
Assists
10.
Hendrie believes that signing Kamara, someone who played a part in all of their 46 League One games en route to the title a couple of seasons ago, would see him become their number one option for that position.
“[The lack of squad depth] might just give him more opportunities to go and prove what he is capable of doing.”
Hull City’s winger situation may sanction Abu Kamara sale
Abu Kamara of Hull City against Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer
Hull were saturated with wide men last season as a result of a plethora of untimely injuries.
Liam Miller and Mohamed Belloumi played just 11 and 10 league games, respectively, before they both suffered season-ending ACL injuries. And mid-season loanee Louie Barry also ended the season in the treatment room.
Despite this, the Tigers still had the likes of Nordin Amrabat, Joe Gelhardt and Kyle Joseph to play in the positions behind Joao Pedro, as well as Abu Kamara.
The likes of Amrabat, Barry and Gelhardt have departed the club this summer, but there are still plenty of winger options available to Sergej Jakirovic for the upcoming season.
Abu Kamara did sign a four-year deal last summer upon arrival at the MKM Stadium, so a sale will only happen if Hull sanction it. But given the amount of quality the Tigers have set to return in his position, Kamara may find himself with even less opportunity in the side next season.
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