Manchester United loanee Di’Shon Bernard was “excellent” on his Portsmouth debut, says Pompey boss John Mousinho.
After joining the Fratton Park outfit on the last day of the January transfer window, the 22-year-old was thrown straight into Portsmouth’s starting line-up for yesterday’s League One clash against Barnsley.
Bernard, who is spending the remaining of the 2022-23 campaign on loan with Mousinho’s side, played the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw against the Oakwell outfit.
Despite naturally being an out-and-out centre-back, Pompey’s new number 28 made his debut for the former Premier League side at right-back.
John Mousinho delivers verdict on how Di’Shon Bernard fared on his Portsmouth debut
With Pompey leading 1-0, Bernard had a great chance to double his new side’s lead, but his second half header from a corner went wide of the post.
Bernard was denied a win on his bow for Pompey as Barnsley scored an 89th-minute equaliser, but the former Chelsea youngster, who spent last season on loan at Championship side Hull City, impressed his new boss.
Mousinho said: “[Bernard] played full 90 minutes, asked him to play slightly out of position – I thought he did really well against probably one of the better attacking left wing-backs in the league in [Nicky] Cadden, so he was excellent, and he grew into the game in the second half.
“There were a couple of bits we spoke with him at half-time – he took those on board and adjusted nicely and I thought he had a brilliant debut.
“I think there is bright things to come [from him].”
Bernard, whose solitary appearance for the Manchester United first team came back in 2019 via the Europa League, had 63 touches and won all three of his aerial duels, as per SofaScore.
In what as an all-action debut, Bernard also registered two tackles, seven interceptions and five clearances.