Published Date:
27 February 2009

By Neil Allen

Niko Kranjcar revelled in his new Pompey role and pledged: Now you'll see the best of me.

The Croatia playmaker has operated in the hole behind the lone striker in Paul Hart's two games in charge so far.

It's a position he favours, having made his name there back in his native Croatia before his Fratton Park switch.

Kranjcar believes it's a return to a role he can thrive in as he looks to rediscover his form in what has been a disappointing personal season.

And the 24-year-old is relishing the chance to prove his worth against Chelsea next week.

He said: 'I believe that is my best position – but I have rarely played there for Portsmouth.

'When I came over I knew in England it's a position I wasn't going to play that often, but when I get the chance to I really enjoy it.

'As long as I'm in the team I'm happy – but I think the manager knows what my best position is.

'When the new management team came in they said "Niko, we believe this is where you are most dangerous" and it has given me a smile.

'I like the freedom and the closeness to goal, the chance to make the assists and to get a goal myself.

'Every player and every person has a different opinion about football so it's not my position to moan. I need to perform, I need to play where the coach puts me and try to do it every single game. But it's where I believe I play the best.

'I play on the left for Croatia but in the Euros against Germany I played off the striker and that was probably our best game of the tournament.

'Back home in Croatia for Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb I always played behind the striker. But the most important thing is the team gets the results. Whether I play left, right, middle, it doesn't matter.'

Kranjcar marked his latest appearance in the position with the opener against Stoke at the weekend.

It was a rare ray of light in a season hampered by injury – now he's looking to push on.

He added: 'I've hated this year to be honest. I've had too many injuries, but it's one of those seasons you have to see through and try to get the maximum out towards the end of it.

'It's been hard to get in form but these past weeks helped me get in better form.

'I know it's been a season with setbacks and it hasn't been the best for me, but it's football, that's life and you get on with it.'