Portsmouth injury ‘concern’ drops after Matthews weekend news
Portsmouth have been under siege with injuries this season and new concerns are springing up left, right and centre.
The Blues have been struggling through relegation fear to now attempt to move clear of the drop zone and towards some mid-table comfort, having now put a run together of three straight wins.
The latest of those came via a 2-1 success over QPR at Fratton Park (22 February), with John Mousinho pleased with what he witnessed in achieving the three points.
Portsmouth injury ‘concern’ looms
Mousinho has delivered a considerable injury update after several players emerged from Saturday’s win with an issue of some sort.
Rob Atkinson was withdrawn in the first half, with a silver lining coming as Regan Poole was fit enough to play almost an hour as his replacement.
The head coach also admitted Isaac Hayden and Zak Swanson both felt an issue when withdrawn on the hour mark, while Hayden Matthews left the ground with a crutch.
Mark O’Mahony, only just back from injury, was absent from the squad with another hopefully minor flag-up.
“Rob felt his calf and we’ll see how that is. It’s really frustrating for Rob because he got through so many games,” Mousinho firstly explained to BBC Radio Solent.
“Isaac came off as a precaution and wasn’t 100 per cent, I just didn’t want to risk anything. Zak was the same, just taken off as a precaution.
“Hayden Matthews, I don’t know yet – I think he took a heavy challenge. That one is more of a concern. Mark O’Mahony felt something in his groin so wasn’t in the squad.”
Pompey now prepare to begin March this Saturday with a trip to basement boys Luton Town, who are scrapping for their Championship lives having only dropped out of the Premier League nine months ago.
| Portsmouth injury list 2024-25 | Injury | Due back |
| Hayden Matthews | Leg | Doubtful |
| Rob Atkinson | Calf | Doubtful |
| Isaac Hayden | Fatigue | March |
| Zak Swanson | Hamstring | March |
| Mark O’Mahony | Groin | March |
| Callum Lang | Hamstring | Pre-season |
| Conor Shaughnessy | Hamstring | April |
| Freddie Potts | Calf | March |
| Jordan Williams | Hamstring | March |
| Paddy Lane | Knee | Pre-season |
| Jacob Farrell | Leg | Pre-season |
| Ibane Bowat | Knee | Pre-season |
Mousinho saved by bulk of his squad
Portsmouth emerged from last summer’s transfer window, which ended on 30 August, with the largest squad in the Championship – 31 players in all.
Since just 25 senior stars can be registered with the EFL to play league fixtures, several players were cast into the wilderness – some of whom, including Tom Lowery and Ben Stevenson, have since departed Fratton Park.
Colby Bishop was not immediately included due to an expectancy that his heart surgery recovery would run until beyond January; however, he was able to replace the injury-stricken Ibane Bowat in November to begin to play. Bowat, meanwhile, still hasn’t debuted for Pompey since signing from Fulham.
While Mousinho shows enough self-awareness not to be publicly drawn into complaining about Portsmouth’s incredible injury list this campaign, he has been dealt a poor hand at times.
Just when things looked to be improving, Conor Shaughnessy and Callum Lang are once again ruled out. It has poured on the South Coast seafront at times, but the Blues are doing well to ride the choppy waves.