Portsmouth caretaker boss Paul Hart says new signing Pele is some way from a Premiership debut.
The Portugal U21 midfielder saw action for the reserves in this week's 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea and Hart said: "I think he has to get a bit match fit. He hasn't had any games for a long time. That was why he played, to help him get around the pitch a bit.
"There were a lot of people who haven't played at all, some reserve-team games have been called off, and that is why we had a strong side out there on Monday.
"Pele needs time to adapt, he's come over here from Portugal and has to bed into the English game. Sometimes it can be difficult.
"No doubt about it, he's a very strong boy. He just needs games."