Portsmouth ace Colby Bishop

Portsmouth boss Mousinho confirms reason for Colby Bishop absence in Croatia pre-season camp

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

18 Jul 2024, 2:40 am

John Mousinho has updated Portsmouth fans with the reason behind Colby Bishop's absence from the club's pre-season camp in Croatia.

Mousinho was quizzed on the missing striker by BBC Radio Solent's Andrew Moon [17 July] after Pompey's opening summer win at Gosport Borough on Tuesday night.

It was confirmed last season's talismanic number nine has been away from the Blues squad's preparations as his partner is expecting their child very soon.

"Colby didn't travel to Croatia because his wife is expecting, and we didn't include him in the Gosport game because we didn't think it was the right thing to do.

"They haven't had the baby just yet - there was too much risk there and we'll just wait and see.

"Colby has obviously been keeping up with as much work as he can [away from the squad], so we're really happy with that at the moment."

Bishop ready for Portsmouth Championship challenge

This season will certainly be a huge test for Bishop as an individual as much as any player in the Portsmouth squad.

Having proven himself to be one of League One's hottest properties in the past two seasons - firing in over 20 league goals in each - the chance will now be there to spearhead the Pompey attack in the second tier.

Mousinho flat out refused any chance of the club losing Bishop this summer when asked about the matter last week, despite obvious interest from fellow Championship clubs who could perhaps offer a more tempting financial incentive.

Colby Bishop has been prolific for Portsmouth

But the 27-year-old is loved at Fratton Park, suits Mousinho's style of play and feels as if the South Coast is the place he can continue to progress in the best way.

Sporting director Rich Hughes has even touted the possibility of the club looking to tie down he and fellow forward Kusini Yengi to improved long-term contracts, a key part of Pompey's progression plan.

In other Portsmouth news, a statistical look at a rumoured player of interest, Karamoko Dembele.

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