Mousinho reveals reason for Scully absence in pre-season and challenges Portsmouth man
John Mousinho has explained the reason behind the absence of Anthony Scully for Portsmouth last weekend.
Scully was absent from both of Pompey’s pre-season wins over Havant & Waterlooville and Bognor Regis Town last weekend, having played 45 minutes in the opening match of the schedule against Gosport Borough.
The head coach revealed Scully was suffering with a stomach bug – the same illness that has also affected other members of the squad and their families.
“Anthony was ill. There’s a bit of illness going through,” Mousinho told The News reporter Neil Allen [22 July].
“Sammy Silvera missed a couple of days worth of training, Conor Shaughnessy missed Friday, not because of illness but family illness. There’s a stomach bug going around.
“We would have had Anthony involved and given him minutes over these two games, but unfortunately he was ill. He has trained every day this pre-season, this is the first time he has missed everything.”
Mousinho sets challenge for Scully at Portsmouth
Continuing, the Blues boss said winger Scully needs to progress from what he has shown on the training pitch, claiming he had a very strong pre-season last year but could not quite get that run of games under his belt.
The Irishman played just 270 minutes of league football last season, with three starts in six appearances.
With Silvera and Josh Murphy brought to Fratton Park, the competition for Scully has increased, whilst the club’s admiration of former Celtic star Karamoko Dembele means the wide options for Pompey could become stacked before the Championship campaign begins.
Mousinho reaffirmed it is “important for Anthony to get minutes” in 2024-25, with the coaching staff still of the belief that Scully can offer something in the second tier.
Should he be unable to break into the team, a loan deal or even sale if possible could be the best option for the 25-year-old, whose contract expires next summer.
In other Portsmouth news, the Pompey Women’s team have discovered their first-ever Championship fixture.
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