Denver Hume’s tenure at Fratton Park is marked by a perplexing contradiction. Despite being labeled a £200,000 flop, his performance wasn’t actually as poor as suggested during his unremarkable two-year stint on the south coast.
Hume’s time at Pompey ultimately turned out to be a costly disappointment, with only 31 appearances to his name. However, there are nuances that should be taken into account when evaluating his Blues career, making it one of the more enigmatic episodes in recent memory.
While Hume’s first two games resulted in defeats, the team eventually found success with a 2-1 victory over Burton in February 2022. However, Cowley’s decision to primarily adopt a back four limited Hume’s opportunities, and he struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting XI.
In March, a prolapsed disc in Hume’s back sidelined him for five months, making it challenging for him to reclaim a spot in the team. Although he made a few appearances toward the end of Cowley’s tenure, the arrival of John Mousinho further diminished his chances.
By April 2023, Mousinho expressed the club’s desire to offload Hume, acknowledging the need for realism. Last week, more than nine months later, Hume’s ties with Portsmouth were finally severed as he joined Grimsby on a free transfer for the remainder of the season.
