Danny Cowley makes Joe Pigott admission after Portsmouth beat Leyton Orient in friendly

Danny Cowley has heaped praise on summer addition Joe Pigott after he grabbed his first goals for the club.

Portsmouth beat League Two side Leyton Orient 5-2 in a behind closed doors friendly on Tuesday night thanks to a Pigott brace, Marlon Pack, a Ronan Curtis penalty and a Shad Ogie own goal.

It was the on-loan Ipswich striker Pigott who impressed the Pompey boss. After only scoring three goals throughout the entirety of last season, the 28-year-old has hit the ground running in pre-season and Cowley was left mesmerised by the striker's first touch and link-up play with his new team-mates.

"He's a good player isn't he?" said Cowley after the match. "He's got really good link and combination skills. If you play into him he's so soft with his first touch, and he just has this lovely way that he kind of caresses the ball - and he's a really good finisher."

Pigott will spend the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign with Cowley's side after it was revealed that Ipswich do not have a recall clause in the deal. As part of the transfer, Marcus Harness joined the Tractor Boys in a permanent deal worth £600,000.

Pompey are not done with their summer transfer business, with the club in pursuit of striker Colby Bishop having already secured the aforementioned Pigott, goalkeepers Josh Griffiths and Josh Oluwayemi, Pack, Zak Swanson and Joe Rafferty.