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Callum Lang has proven to be a great investment as Pompey pick up momentum at the bottom of the second tier

Having helped Portsmouth FC get over the line and earn a return to the Championship in the second-half of last season, Callum Lang was given the chance to test himself in the second tier once again.

The former Wigan Athletic man had just the one season at the highest stage of the EFL for a doomed Latics side in the 22/23 campaign before this current season, and found the net just once in 35 appearances as Athletic finished rock bottom.

But a move to Fratton Park last January has seen him rejuvenated on the south coast, as his performances continue to be crucial in Pompey’s battle against the drop in 24/25, with nine goals in 20 appearances demonstrating his quality.

At 26-years-old, the playmaker is coming into his own, and if he plays well, then his team play well, making the reported £400,000 transfer fee of 12 months ago seem like an absolute bargain.

Callum Lang wastes no time in proving Championship class

Having waltzed to the League One title last season, there will have been a mixture of nerves and excitement in the air around Fratton Park as the current campaign got underway, as the 2008 FA Cup winners returned to the second tier after more than a decade away.

A trip to Leeds United to start the campaign was something of a baptism of fire, but right from the off Lang and his teammates were intent on going toe-to-toe with the big-spenders of Elland Road, with a scintillating 3-3 draw offering John Mousinho’s side more than a sliver of hope as they headed into new territory.

As for any promoted side, there would have been question marks all over the field; can he cut it at the level above? Is he sharp enough? Do they have what it takes as a team? But those questions were more than answered that day, with Lang providing two crowning moments to earn a point.

The former Wigan man gave his all throughout the 90 minutes, as his tireless efforts without the ball showed his discipline and maturity, while he provided a spark when going forward, as well as giving his side a lead heading into half-time after a thunderbolt from distance.

A late penalty then sealed a point for the travelling fans to celebrate, and laid down a marker to the rest of the division; this was a team to be taken seriously, and Lang was something of a secret weapon.

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Much was made of Pompey’s tough fixture list to start the season, with the likes of Sunderland, Burnley and Middlesbrough all on the cards before September came to an end, and while results proved hard to come by, performances were spirited, with plenty of optimism within the Fratton Park fanbase.

While things took a while to click, Lang was still posing a threat wherever he popped up; whether he featured on the right or more centrally, with another goal from the spot helping his side earn a first win of the season at Queens Park Rangers, and with that money off their back, the whole side began to ease into their task at hand.

Colby Bishop’s [pictured] return from heart surgery has also helped no end, with the former Accrington Stanley striker helping to provide a focal point up top which the side can build from, while Lang has the perfect foil to work alongside to give him room to work his magic.

A fifth goal of the season came against Bristol City in a resounding 3-0 win at Fratton Park, before the weekend before Christmas saw everything he touched turn to goals, as a four-goal haul against Coventry City helped to haul his side out of the bottom three, and give them the perfect platform to build from for the rest of the season.

As the side’s top scorer with nine this season, Lang has proven himself to be a pivotal part of the Pompey party this season, while only Josh Murphy can top his 40 progressive carries, which proves just how vital he is in moving the ball forward, and claiming priceless territory throughout the 90 minutes.

When a team is fighting for their lives at the bottom of a division you need players who can stand up and be counted, and Lang has shown that character throughout the season to prove he is a fighter, and willing to do all he can to whip Fratton Park into a frenzy, and keep that momentum going into the second-half of the season.

This is a different Callum Lang to what the Championship has seen before; this is a Callum Lang that is ready to give his all for the blue shirt and battle for his teammates until the final whistle.

12 months on, I think you would say it is £400,000 well spent, and if Pompey manage to stay in the second tier, a large part of that will be down to a player on course for the greatest scoring season of his career.