Ian Darke laments ‘freakish’ Conor Shaughnessy injury at Portsmouth
Portsmouth have had rotten luck with injuries this season and have had to deal with a “freakish” blow to Conor Shaughnessy, says Ian Darke.
Pompey’s treatment table has been busy all campaign as the club look to stave off the threat of an immediate return to League One, with their form improving in recent weeks.
Last season’s Player of the Year Shaughnessy, however, has not featured since the 0-0 draw with Luton Town on 17 August, and is ruled out until the New Year after what was first believed to be an innocuous calf issue.
“Pompey have overall been luckless with injuries. He is a key player and it’s freakish really what’s happened,” TV commentator Darke exclusively told Pompey News.
“We heard it was a complicated injury where he’s nearly back from one calf injury and then the other one went while he was doing straight-line running.
“I think there’s a bit of a mystery surrounding it all, but they will now have gone half a season without a first-choice central defender. They’ve had to do things like play Marlon Pack in defence, which I’m not sure you’d want to do all season.”
Portsmouth beginning to cope without Conor Shaughnessy
Portsmouth have been through the mill in the Championship this season, but look to be emerging from the other side.
Shaughnessy’s absence has inspired some poor defensive showings in the past few months, but Pompey now look a lot more sturdy and have now kept clean sheets in each of their last two games.
Friday’s trip to Derby County is likely to see a reshuffle of the backline from John Mousinho, with Regan Poole withdrawn at the break for Tom McIntyre against Norwich City in midweek.
In other Portsmouth news, Nicolas Schmid is performing at the right time for the Blues.
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