Traore thankful to Redknapp

Traore: Happy at Pompey

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• Portsmouth

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• Armand Traore
• Nadir Belhadj

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Armand Traore has thanked Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp for playing him regularly.

The young Frenchman joined Pompey on a season-long loan from Arsenal in August and has established himself as a key member of Redknapp's team.

He has started eight of the last nine games and has been in excellent form down the left-hand side of the pitch.

Traore believes he has made progress over the last couple of months and feels he owes a lot to Redknapp.

"I am enjoying it a lot because I am playing in lots of games. That's what I came for," Traore told The News.

"Most of all, I am definitely improving as a player."

"Harry has been very good. He's doing what he promised before I came to Portsmouth. He is giving me games, giving me the experience and I am better because of it.

Happy

"I'm happy. I get on very well with everyone and I am getting the experience and that is down to the manager. I thank him for that.

"I have learned how to play in different situations, things like simple passing, control and my awareness. My game in these areas has improved, definitely."

Traore is confident he will continue to go from strength to strength over the course of the season, while he also has high hopes for his partnership with Nadir Belhadj down the left.

"Me and Nadir link up well," he explained.

"At the beginning we found it a bit hard but now we have started to understand each other and it's working.

"We are the same type of player. We are both quick and like to attack and I think we can do something together on the left side this year.

"For me this is only the beginning. I haven't played 10 games yet and I think there's more to come."