Departing Pompey star Stevens has high hopes for former club

(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

Sheffield United’s latest recruit, left-back Enda Stevens, has backed his former Portsmouth teammates to continue their rise up the EFL.

Stevens, 26, ended his two-season spell on the south coast yesterday by joining Chris Wilder’s recently crowned League One champions as they plan for life back in the Championship.

The industrious full-back missed just one game all season for League two champions Pompey, and was named the Player’s Player of the Season, but will join the Blades when his contract expires at the end of the month.

However, Stevens remains confident Portsmouth can thrive without him in the third tier, telling Radio Solent: “The manager [Paul Cook] has a lot of experience of taking clubs up from League Two to League One.

“He always lets the players make mistakes and express themselves.”

Enda Stevens mobbed by jubilant Pompey fans after they won League Two in dramatic fashion (Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

A host of teams were linked with Stevens after a stellar season in which he scored once, recorded seven assists and was named in the EFL Team of the Season, but the former Aston Villa man believes Sheffield United is the ideal club for him.

Stevens said: “It was a difficult decision to leave as I enjoyed myself so much, I enjoyed living in the area and the club is a massive and great one to play for.

“But, I felt the opportunity to play in the Championship was one I couldn’t pass up. It’s exciting to go to a club that got 100 points in League One this season.

“It’s going to be tough to get in the side, but it’s up to me to work hard to make it happen.”