Matt Tootle: 'Portsmouth game will showcase how far Notts County have come'

Matt Tootle is looking forward to Monday's "massive" League Two home game against Portsmouth, claiming that the anticipated record crowd and buzzing atmosphere is a sign of "how far the club's come and where it's going".

The Magpies will be welcoming to Meadow Lane a Pompey side which could seal promotion out of the fourth tier, where they have been languishing since 2013 following catastrophic financial hardship which is now behind them.

Notts are also smiling after their own off-the-pitch problems came to an end when Alan Hardy took over the club this year, with manager Kevin Nolan all but guiding the side out of relegation danger and the future looking much rosier for the previously beleagured NG2 side.

Tootle is relishing not only the prospect of a big crowd and atmosphere, but also the opportunity for the team to test themselves against high-flying opposition.

The defender told the official Notts site: "It's a massive game, Monday. It will be a really good day for everyone and it will show how far the club's come, and where it's going.

"It's a good test for us. We beat Plymouth a few months ago, we beat Portsmouth away and we'll show on Monday that we're just as good, if not better than them.

"This should really be a top-of-the-table clash. It will be a great game and a great crowd - and I can't wait."

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