Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has praised the immediate impact of former Eastleigh forward Tyrese Shade after his whirlwind Championship debut. Shade, who left the Spitfires last week, started and assisted in a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Fratton Park.

Mousinho told the Portsmouth website that the 26-year-old's swift integration was remarkable. "We had announced Tyrese’s signing on the Tuesday, he had a first training session on the Wednesday - and we chucked him straight into the side on Saturday for a Championship game against a very, very good Cardiff side," he said.

Shade was thrust into the starting lineup on the left wing due to an injury to Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. He made an instant mark, providing the assist for Conor Shaughnessy's headed opener with a long throw from the left flank in the first half. He also forced a sharp save from Cardiff goalkeeper Nathan Trott with a powerful 30-yard drive before being substituted in the 69th minute due to cramp.

"His overall game was impressive and it’s a great confidence boost for him," Mousinho added.

From Silverlake to Fratton Park

Shade's move caps a rapid ascent from the National League, where he was a key figure for Eastleigh. He joined the Spitfires in July 2024 and netted 14 goals in 43 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, a tally that matched his output from the previous season. One of those goals came in a 2-2 draw at Woking 16 months ago. Before his prolific spell at the Silverlake Stadium, Shade had scored 11 career goals, having played as a centre-forward for Burton Albion after earlier spells with Solihull Moors, Walsall, and Swindon Town. His career began at Solihull Moors before a 2017 move to Leicester City, where he never made a first-team appearance but did feature for their Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

Eastleigh's current campaign

Back at Eastleigh, the team is handling the early phase of the new National League season. They currently sit 11th in the table with 11 points from seven matches, a record of three wins, two draws and two losses. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws and one defeat from the last five outings. The most recent result was a 1-1 home draw with league leaders Boreham Wood on September 12, a game in which T. Eweka scored a late equaliser. That result leaves Eastleigh six points behind the summit.

Shade's departure is a significant loss for the Spitfires' attacking options, but it shows the club's role as a platform for players aiming for the Football League. His whirlwind five-day transition from Eastleigh to a Championship assist is a notable chapter for both clubs. Eastleigh's next match is a trip to face Southend United on September 19.