“Do whatever we can…” – Danny Cowley reveals Portsmouth’s stance on fresh summer deal

Danny Cowley has said Portsmouth will “do whatever we can” to re-sign Leicester City George Hirst in the summer.

The 23-year-old played a starring role in last night’s 3-0 win over title contenders Rotherham United at Fratton Park – creating Marcus Harness’ goal and then scoring his side’s third himself.

That takes the forward’s tally to 11 goals and three assists for the season – by far the most productive of his career to date.

Hirst is set to return to Leicester at the end of the 2021/22 campaign but, speaking to The News after last night’s game, Cowley made it clear that the South Coast club were keen to sign him and would do all they can to bring him back to Fratton Park.

He said: “George has been great and let’s hope we don’t have to replace him.

“We’d like to sign him, extend the loan, do whatever we can. We have to, these are the young players that we want to try to sign.

“I think their parent clubs have respected the way we’ve looked after them and helped them, supported them. I hope, as a consequence, our relationship with those clubs has got stronger and they trust us.

“Sometimes when players are on an upward curve and making rapid progress, you want to keep them going. I would if it was my loan player.

“I still think that for George there’s another stepping stone before he gets into Leicester’s first team, and I don’t mean to be disrespectful, I’m being realistic.

“I just think this is a relationship which works, so why can’t we extend that or sign permanently? We haven’t got any number nines.

“I don’t know if it can happen, I want it to and would like it to, but I don’t know.

“I’m respectful of Leicester and Brendan Rodgers, they have been very kind to lend George to us, so I don’t think it’s for me to