Portsmouth manager gives verdict on signing Dishon Bernard on loan

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Manchester United youngster Di’Shon Bernard‘s career has a new lease of life after he clinched a loan move to Portsmouth.

United confirmed on transfer deadline day that Bernard has signed for Pompey until the rest of the season.

An injury prevented Bernard from going out on loan in the summer. He had previously been out at Salford City and then Hull City.

Bernard’s spell at Hull began promisingly and then tailed off after a change of manager mid-season.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023

Portsmouth boss gives verdict on Bernard

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has given Bernard his backing and says he is excited to bring the centre-back to the club.

He was quoted by Portsmouth’s The News talking up Bernard’s ability and said he was pleasantly surprised they were able to do the deal.

‘Di’Shon is a fantastic young player with a great pedigree behind him. It was someone we didn’t think we were going to be able to bring in, so we’re really pleased to have him here.

He’s very quick and athletic, and likes to play on the front foot. He’s also someone who is comfortable on the ball and composed.

Di’Shon doesn’t mind carrying it out from the back and has had that grounding at Manchester United, where the demand is to do just that.

‘But he’s also got that defensive ability that you need and for a 22-year-old, is very mature. We’re excited to get him in the building.’

Bernard joins a former Premier League club who are battling to get out of League One. Currently they sit in 11th place, six points off the play-off spots. They have games in hand on several of the sides around them.

The Manchester United defender has a chance to become a hero if he can help his new side to win promotion to the Championship.

But it might be sensible for his new side to temper expectations at first. Bernard has not played a competitive game since the end of last season.

He has been playing for United’s under-21s, and also featured for the first team against Cadiz in a friendly in December.

Bernard has one appearance for Manchester United’s first team, way back in 2019 away at Astana.