View: Mousinho could axe 40% Portsmouth ace v Burnley amid injury news
John Mousinho could axe Connor Ogilvie when Portsmouth take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday (21 September).
It has been a tough start to the EFL Championship campaign for Pompey. After five matches played, Mousinho’s side have picked up just three points, drawing their first three matches of the season upon their long-awaited return to England’s second-tier.
They have lost their past two matches, both at Fratton Park, against Championship high-flyers Sunderland (31 August) and West Brom (15 September). Therefore, they will be hoping to avoid three consecutive defeats.
However, they face a tough task as they get set to take on another of the division’s in-form teams, Scott Parker’s Burnley, who currently sit second in the table.
As well as the club’s tough fixture list, which has also included the likes of Leeds United and Luton Town, injuries have derailed Portsmouth’s start to the season.
Therefore, Mousinho’s latest update from Fratton Park will have been music to supporters’ ears.
While speaking to BBC Radio Solent’s Rob Sills (18 September), the Blues boss confirmed that both Farrell and Regan Poole are available from the start against Burnley.
Poole made an emotional return to action after 10 months on the sidelines, coming off the bench during the 3-0 defeat to West Brom.
As for Farrell, the left-back is yet to make his debut for Pompey following his arrival at the club in the summer.
Mousinho will no doubt be keen to get one of his latest signings involved. However, for Farrell to feature, it means one player will need to make way for the 21-year-old.
And that player is likely to be Ogilvie, who has started all five matches at left-back for Portsmouth this season.
Jacob Farrell to make Portsmouth debut v Burnley?
Ogilvie wasn’t at his best last time out against the Baggies, winning just one of his three ground duels while only completing 66 per cent of his passes [Sofascore].
In addition, just 50 per cent of his crosses into the box were accurate. It was a similar story in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium (24 August).
That day, Ogilvie was dribbled past once, won just 40 per cent of his ground duels, 25 per cent of his aerial duels and completed just 73 per cent of his passes.
In the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland between the matches against the Baggies and the Boro, Ogilvie also struggled. Therefore, this could be the perfect time for the defender to make way for Farrell.
However, Ogilvie has impressed at times this season, particularly during the 0-0 draw with Luton Town at Fratton Park (17 August).
On that occasion, the Englishman won four of his five aerial duels and two of his three ground duels, while he also completed 93 per cent of his passes and created one big chance.
As a result, should Farrell not live up to expectations, Mousinho will feel confident that Ogilvie might be able to rediscover some form and slot back into the starting lineup if necessary.
In other Portsmouth news, Ian Darke is thrilled with Mousinho despite “stormier waters” to come.
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