2.8 aerials duels won per game: Should Portsmouth be pursuing a permanent move for this player?

The summer transfer window was certainly an eventful one for Portsmouth, with a long list of players arriving at Fratton Park to boost the club’s first-team, as they looked to secure promotion from League One.

Among those to arrive at the club was George Hirst, with the 23-year-old joining on loan from Premier League side Leicester City until the end of the season.

Given the striker had only scored three goals in 59 career games prior to that move to Fratton Park, this could have been as something of a risky move for Pompey to take, as well as an opportunity for the player himself to catch the eye with more regular football.

But just how has Hirst down since making that move to the south-coast? And could it be enough to convince Portsmouth to try and sign him permanently once the summer transfer window reopens.

Here, we’ve taken a look at some of the stats behind Hirst’s season so far – according to WhoScored – in order to find out.

Admittedly, Hirst’s tally of eight goals from his 30 League One appearances for Portsmouth so far is not the most prolific.

However, when you consider the fact that all but once of those goals has come since the turn of the year, it does seem as though Hirst is starting to find his form at the right time for Pompey, with the club now also enjoying an impressive string of results that have put them back into contention for a play-off place.

Indeed, with the 23-year-old averaging 1.9 shots per game, he is seemingly starting to grow in confidence when it comes to backing himself in front of goal, which could be crucial to DannyCowley’s side finding the net with the required regularity to get the results that might haul them back into the Championship.

It is also interesting to note that although