Portsmouth predicted XI v QPR: Callum Lang out after crushing blow
John Mousinho looks set to make one change to his starting XI when Portsmouth host Queens Park Rangers at Fratton Park.
Pompey are in search of a league double over QPR and a third win on the spin, with their form at Fratton very much impressing over the past few months.
Callum Lang has been ruled out for the season in a desperate blow, alongside the latest absence of Conor Shaughnessy, Mousinho having to crack on without both of the crucial pair starting Saturday (22 February).
Portsmouth suffering again from injury woes
Portsmouth have been plagued by injuries all season long, something Mousinho is determined not to use as any kind of excuse as he continues to acknowledge the same fate looms over other Championship clubs.
With Lang and Shaughnessy both nursing hamstring issues, however, the survival battle which has appeared to be going smoothly has now seen a spanner thrown into the works.
With a cloud comes a silver lining, however, and Hayden Matthews has largely performed admirably when stepping up to the plate during his first weeks of experience in English football.
Adil Aouchiche could now be the next in line to be provided with a platform, having looked lively in his substitute appearances with Mousinho often turning to the Frenchman first when making changes.
Aouchiche specialised in a number 10 role rather than out wide during his days in France and after signing for Sunderland, so could excel in the void left by the talismanic Lang, who will doubtless be very much missed.
Dozzell and Hayden face former club QPR
Freddie Potts has been absent for the past two games, having picked up a calf strain with Mousinho expecting to welcome the midfielder back to full training on Friday.
With just one day on the grass before the Fratton contest, it is unlikely Potts will be risked to start and will probably take a place on the bench – this invites the partnership to continue of former QPR duo Isaac Hayden and Andre Dozzell, who face their former teammates.
The duo both spent time at Loftus Road and Dozzell in particular has been in flourishing form, scoring his first Portsmouth goal in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Oxford United (15 February) in a dominant display.
Elsewhere, the back four is anticipated to remain the same, as well as the two wide operators in Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie, while Colby Bishop leads the line.
Youngster Mark O’Mahony will hope for some minutes having returned from injury to score the game-sealing goal at the Kassam Stadium last time out.