Teddy Sheringham urges Portsmouth and John Mousinho to look to Ipswich Town, Sunderland example | OneFootball

The former Pompey striker has staked his claim that Portsmouth will be a competitive force this season.

Former Portsmouth and England striker Teddy Sheringham has backed John Mousinho's team to be a competitive force in the Championship next season following their promotion – encouraging them to look to emulate Ipswich Town and Sunderland rather than just avoid relegation.

Pompey won the League One title ahead of Derby County, and will find themselves in the second tier for the first time since 2012 - the year that they were relegated, before spending the next twelve years in League One and League Two.

However, Mousinho will not be resting on his laurels this summer and has already started adding to his team, with Jordan Archer, Jordan Williams and Josh Murphy all joining on permanent free deals. Middlesbrough'sSam Silvera has moved to Fratton Park on loan as well, with 18-year-old Reuben Swann arriving at the end of last month from AFC Sudbury, but he is expected to be loaned out.

Similar to Ipswich Town and Sunderland in the last couple of seasons, Portsmouth are not spending above their means, and after building a squad capable of promotion since Mousinho was given the job in 2023, they may just spring a few surprises in the Championship.

Sheringham is expectant of Portsmouth on Championship return

Speaking exclusively to FLW, via Crypto Sports Betting, Sheringham was pressed on whether his former club's focus should be on avoiding the drop or if they could afford to be a bit more ambitious and look to emulate the success of Sunderland, who reached the play-offs in their first season back in the second tier, and Ipswich, who won back-to-back promotions.

He said: "They can look to finish as high as possible this season.

"He [Mousinho] is a good coach, he has done really well.

"They have the taste of success, so can push on and have a good season."

Portsmouth scored 78 goals in League One last time out, and conceded just 41 - the third-best in the league. Their defensive prowess meant that they lost just five league games, four fewer than Bolton Wanderers.

Colby Bishop's 21 goals was enough to see him finish second in the top scorer rankings, behind Alfie May, and he will be hoping to hit the ground running in his first season in the Championship.

Mousinho, who is in his first managerial job after retiring from playing last year, will be looking to recreate Ipswich's back-to-back promotions under another young, talented manager, Kieran McKenna.

Ipswich did not spend a huge amount on transfer fees last season, instead utilsiing the squad that got the Tractor Boys into the second tier, and sticking to the system that proved to be so hard to beat.

If Mousinho carries forward the attacking, exciting football that won League One into the Championship, then the top half of the division will have to watch out.

Portsmouth may need a few more through the door

Nevertheless, Pompey may have to bring in some new additions to Fratton Park to help push them towards the upper end of the table.

As per Alan Nixon, Mousinho has an interest in Bolton right-back Josh Dacres-Cogley, with the 28-year-old holding a £500,000 price tag. Alex Robertson has also been linked with a move back to Portsmouth, following a year-long loan last season on the south coast.

They are currently waiting for Manchester City, Robertson's parent club, to finalise their plans for the young midfielder, whose promotion campaign ended early due to injury.

Adding more youth to the team will be key to Mousinho's and Portsmouth's triumphs in the years to come, and if he can get them firing from the off, Sheringham may be right in his prediction for Pompey's success in the Championship.