Last year Danny East played every position for Hull’s reserves – including goalkeeper.
An indication then of what the 21-year-old will bring to Pompey having become their latest summer capture.
Versatility is the name of the Hull youngster’s game as he seeks to establish himself in regular football, with Guy Whittingham striving for an 18-man first-team squad.
East’s ubiquitous talents can be crucial to the manager’s League Two plans.
Earlier in the season he played at right-back and right-midfield for Northampton and featured at centre-back for Hull’s reserves on many occasions.
Yet it is as a central-midfielder which East prefers – a role he started out in his footballing life.
Not that the utility-man tag concerns the youngster at this early stage in his career.
He said: ‘As I’ve grown up, I suppose people see me in different positions.
‘I think the manager has seen me play centre-midfield and likes me there, but I have played most of my professional games at right-back.
‘I’ve played left-back as well and I can do a job at centre-half, even though I am not the tallest.
‘I have actually played a lot of reserve-team football at centre-half, but I am quite versatile I suppose.
‘My main position at Northampton was right-back but I also played left-back, right wing-back and right-midfield. I did everything.
‘I did actually play every position on the pitch for the reserves last year, even in goal!
‘It was against Hartlepool and our keeper got sent off so I went in – then got lobbed from 40 yards. It was a good finish, though!
‘Hopefully I will make a position my own, that’s my aim, and I do prefer the centre of midfield. When I play there I seem to live it.
‘I’ve not played enough there in the last couple of seasons but centre-midfield is where I love playing. Also, I have taken a big liking to right-back or centre-half.’
East made his Hull debut last season, appearing in both the FA Cup and Carling Cup for his home-town club.
This term he had a spell on loan at Northampton, starting all but two of 19 matches with them, before a back injury forced him to return to the KC Stadium.
A short two-game spell at Gillingham then followed in March.
Now he has been snapped up by Pompey after being released.
East added: ‘I can put a tackle in and I think everyone knows and likes that about me. I am quite an aggressive player on the pitch, but not off it!
‘But I think my strongest part of the game is on the ball.
‘Obviously in League Two I haven’t got to show it as much, but when I was with Hull that was when I really felt most comfy on the ball and passing it. I think we are going to play football here so I’m looking forward to that.
‘I am not worrying about being versatile. I think this season is the one where I do need to make sure I know myself where I am best at.
‘But at the same time I am happy to be in the team and will play wherever.’