Mousinho to make Towler decision as ‘blunt’ Portsmouth admission made
Portsmouth supporters are none the wiser on how their team will look come this weekend against Luton Town.
John Mousinho has declined to delve into the latest on the fitness of his squad, with several Portsmouth players now doubtful after the win against QPR.
With Rob Atkinson forced off in the first half for Pompey on Saturday (22 February) and defensive partner Hayden Matthews leaving the ground wearing a protective boot and on crutches, a defensive reshuffle could be on the cards.
Portsmouth may have to call on Ryley Towler
Towler has always displayed immaculate professionalism, often in the face of team selection adversity with Mousinho tending to prefer other centre-halves and even square pegs in round holes.
The former Bristol City ace was heavily linked with an exit from Portsmouth in January in what was likely to be a loan deal, but it never materialised and Mousinho opted to keep him in the building having sent Tom McIntyre to Charlton Athletic.
Towler has not even been named in the squad for the past six games but could be thrown straight in for Portsmouth if Atkinson and Matthews are sidelined, and TV commentator and Blues fan Ian Darke has given his honest and measured view on the 22-year-old.
“I think with all the question marks over the long-term injuries, Mousinho hadn’t wanted to take any chances,” Darke exclusively told Pompey News.
“To be fair to Towler, he’s been a fantastic club man. He’s spent a lot of time on the bench, and when he’s come in, he hasn’t really let the team down.
“With the truth to tell, if we’re going to be blunt about it, he isn’t of the same quality of the players above him.
“But he has done enough for the head coach to think he still wants him around in case they’re backed into a corner and still need him.”
Towler has had spells in and out
Towler would not be worth his salt if he wasn’t annoyed by proceedings this season, believing he should be worthy of far more opportunities with some encouraging performances.
The matches in which he has looked out of his depth have been team failings rather than specifically on his shoulders, and he certainly wasn’t the worst of the bunch in his last outing, a 5-1 drubbing by West Brom at The Hawthorns (25 January).
The defender likely expected to find a new chapter for the rest of the campaign on loan somewhere, but has repeatedly spoken of his desire to succeed at Portsmouth.
Towler is still young and will feel as if he has plenty to prove, having been on the periphery during the promotion season in League One and made 14 appearances in all competitions this term.
| Season | Division | Appearances | Clean sheets | Goals |
| 2022-23 | League One | 20 | 9 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | League One | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Championship | 12 | 2 | 1 |
The pattern of Towler’s season for Pompey appears that he keeps his place in the side for a number of weeks, then drops out for more weeks or even months.
If there is one begging question to Mousinho from one fan, it is to punt for Towler over a full-back or midfielder in the centre of the Portsmouth backline against Luton.