The former Brisbane Roar man has made 14 appearances since joining the Blues in January 2025

It has been 21 months since Thomas Waddingham last scored competitively for Pompey.

Now the Australian is a Millwall match winner - and Adrian Segecic has lifted the lid on his team-mate’s remarkable mental strength which dragged him back from gloomy days.

Thomas Waddingham celebrates his Pompey winner - and has earned praise from Adrian Segecic. Picture: Jason Brown | Jason Brown

Millwall represented the former Brisbane Roar man’s 14th outing for Pompey - and Segecic is delighted to see his close friend back among the goals.

‘Mentally he’s been really strong’

He told The News: ‘That’s massive for Wadds. Obviously he’s had his tough times, so for him to come back and get such a vital goal, that will definitely help with his confidence. I’m so pleased for him.

‘It has been so tough, coming in and being injured - and then coming straight back and another set-back. It has been so hard for him, but mentally he’s been really strong and is such a good kid, I am so happy for him.

Adrian Segecic is delighted for his Pompey team-mate after scoring a late Pompey winner. Picture: Jason Brown | Jason Brown

‘All the boys have got around him, not just me, giving him positivity, but he is so mentally strong. He's such a good player and can come off the bench and get us the three points.

‘Wadds has goals in him and has that difference to come on and change the game as well. He’s a different type of player we can bring on compared to Marko and Colby, it’s so good to have him in the squad.

‘He brings more like the forward runs, he’s more of a runner, but he can still do the pin up. I just feel like he needs games under his belt to get a bit of confidence and his momentum going.’

Three wins in four matches

Waddingham had been introduced for the ineffective Marko Milovanovic in the 71st minute with the scoreline poised at 1-1.

Then, eight minutes from time, Jake Cooper’s clearance ricocheted off the striker’s foot to fortuitously find the back of the net to secure victory.

Segecic added: ‘That’s every single player when not in the squad coming on, making a difference, you can see the positivity and the way we are trying to play,

‘Even after the mistake in the first half, the way we reacted, we just kept playing our way. I think it’s the first game all season where we’ve had to dig in when it hasn’t been a neat and tidy match. We can show both sides.’