Mousinho reveals new Portsmouth injury worry after win v Cardiff
John Mousinho has revealed the reason why Freddie Potts was absent for Portsmouth against Cardiff City at Fratton Park.
Potts was a notable omission from the matchday squad on Tuesday night (11 February) as Pompey gained a crucial 2-1 win over the Bluebirds on the South Coast.
The West Ham loanee has been impressive this season and was the only player to drop out of Mousinho’s starting XI following the unlucky defeat at Sheffield United three days earlier.
Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy – the latter also suffered an injury during the second half on Tuesday – scored the goals to secure the victory.
Freddie Potts 50/50 for Portsmouth return at weekend
Mousinho gave an honest assessment on Potts’ issue, which looks to be a minor calf strain which could rule the midfielder out of Saturday’s trip to Oxford United (15 February).
Should he miss the contest at the Kassam Stadium, the aim is for him to make his comeback the following weekend against QPR at Fratton Park.
Potts has enjoyed a fruitful loan stint so far from West Ham having excelled in League One with Wycombe Wanderers last year, now adapting to the step up.
Isaac Hayden was drafted in to replace him in the line-up on Tuesday, before Marlon Pack entered the fray for the final quarter of the game to help settle things down – a job the skipper did with aplomb.
“Freddie was his calf – he’s got a chance this weekend. He’s 50/50 and we’ll see how well it settles on Friday,” Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent’s Andy Moon (12 February).
“We’re hopeful but if not, we’re looking at QPR. The scan hasn’t shown anything serious – there’s something there and we just have to be cautious.
“The weather can have an effect on lower limb injuries and we just have to manage it.”
Portsmouth secure vital three points v Cardiff
Portsmouth moved above opponents Cardiff with the three points in midweek, and are now 18th on 33 points with 14 Championship competitors in action on Wednesday.
Clubs who featured in the FA Cup fourth round over the course of last weekend had to dip from league action, meaning Pompey – who have spent most of the season so far playing catch-up on fixtures – have now played more games than several of their survival rivals.
While a win over Oxford on Saturday – which would only be a second away success in 2024-25 – wouldn’t quite take Mousinho and his side above his former employers, it would reduce the gap between the two sides to two points.