John Mousinho provides Portsmouth injury update on Colby Bishop and Regan Poole

John Mousinho has delivered an update on the injured members of his Portsmouth squad, ahead of Saturday's clash with Luton Town.

Speaking to Andy Moon of BBC Radio Solent [14 August], the Pompey head coach does have some good news on one player in particular as Championship football officially returns to Fratton Park.

Despite last weekend's thrilling draw against Leeds United at Elland Road being the curtain raiser to the new season, seven first-team players were already missing for the Blues as Mousinho had to shuffle his pack.

"The good news is that Regan [Poole] participated in training for the first time, doing the warm-up passing drill and a light bit of possession, so there's some light at the end of the tunnel for him after being out for such a long time," the boss said.

"Tom McIntyre is out on the grass running; Jacob [Farrell] is still not back out yet; we don't think Tom Lowery will be too bad as he's tested pretty well on the hamstring strength. Kusini Yengi is touch-and-go for Saturday, and Josh Murphy is a couple of weeks away, not quite on the grass yet.

"Colby [Bishop] is recovering well - about as well as anyone who's had open heart surgery could. He's up and about, but we have to think about his health before football."

Portsmouth squad progressing well

First and foremost, it's fantastic to hear Colby Bishop is recovering as planned, even doing "a bit too much" as Mousinho touched on as he progresses on a positive route following such a major operation.

Whilst we hope that health-permitting Bishop can be back in a Portsmouth shirt as quickly as possible, the "health before football" mantra could not be applied more strictly here and we wish he and his young family all the best.

As for Poole, who last played in a 3-2 win at Reading in October 2023, getting back on the pitch for light participation is a major step, whilst McIntyre isn't too far behind - two important defensive options this term, with Farrell more of an unknown quantity to opponents who acts as a different vein of left-back to Connor Ogilvie.

Lowery would provide important additional cover in midfield, and the return of Yengi would be paramount if it was to come this Saturday with Elias Sorensen currently Pompey's only fit central striker.

Murphy - who Mousinho described as the "outstanding" performer in pre-season - is crucial to the way the team are set to operate this season and brings that key wealth of Championship pedigree.

In other Portsmouth news, the women's team have completed their full-time backroom staff setup.

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