Jack Sparkes has had to be patient after joining Pompey in the summer following his departure from Exeter.
The left-back is one of just two members of the squad – along with Abu Kamara – to have featured in every game this season.
But until Connor Ogilvie injured his groin at Barnsley a fortnight ago, all but one of his league outings had been from the bench.
Sparkes has since started the wins against Lincoln and Wigan – playing a key part in goals in both those fixtures.
And now he is hoping to retain his place in the side, while also happy to be utilised further up the pitch.
The 23-year-old said: “Everything feels really positive – it always helps when the team is playing well and winning games.
“On a personal level, I would like to have started a few more, but it’s obviously hard to get in when there’s such strong competition.
“Connor’s injury has given me a chance in the team and I need to make sure that I can nail down that spot.
"You have to pick and choose the right moments to attack and perhaps I need to work on the defensive side a little bit."
“He’s always done really well whenever he’s played and so has, rightly, kept the shirt over me. He’ll be trying to do that again when he’s back.
“It’s a cliché and I’ll go wherever the manager wants me. It suits me in a way to be further forward because I can get deliveries into the box.
“That’s something I work on quite a bit with Zesh Rehman and Jon Harley after training – it’s a quality I’ve always prided myself on.
“You have to pick and choose the right moments to attack and perhaps I need to work on the defensive side a little bit.
“But I’ve got good coaches here – Jon played a similar position – and they can help me to tidy things up.”
Pompey are unbeaten in their opening 10 matches to sit at the top of the table ahead of Tuesday night’s visit from Wycombe.
Sparkes said: “We want to win and keep doing what we have been doing recently, but not get too far ahead of ourselves.
“What’s done is done and now this is another game – one that we’re certainly not going to be taking lightly.”