Rich Hughes grateful to two Portsmouth players after ‘Unfortunate’ news
Portsmouth navigating through this season’s injury crisis has led Rich Hughes to single out two players for “huge credit”.
Pompey have been through the wringer with injuries for almost the entirety of their first season back in the Championship, with no less than seven players set to be missing for Sunday’s match against Leeds.
The league leaders travel down to Fratton Park with injury worries of their own, but few teams to pitch up on the south coast this term have had more key players on the sidelines than John Mousinho‘s side.
The likes of Conor Shaughnessy, Rob Atkinson and summer signing Jordan Williams could all return later this month, but their continued absences mean it’ll be a reshuffled defence once again for Mousinho.
Portsmouth duo hailed by Rich Hughes amid Callum Lang latest
It’s not just in defence where Portsmouth have had to deal with being short of numbers due to injury, and while Paddy Lane may be back in March, talisman Callum Lang’s season is over with a hamstring tear.
Speaking at a Tony Goodall Fans’ Conference on 22 February, with minutes released on 4 March, sporting director Hughes was asked by a supporter about Pompey’s injury crisis, in which he praised two players.
| Player | Injury | Possible return date |
| Conor Shaughnessy | Hamstring | Mid-March |
| Jordan Williams | Muscle injury | Mid-March |
| Paddy Lane | Knee | Mid-March |
| Rob Atkinson | Calf | Mid-March |
| Jacob Farrell | Muscle injury | Early May |
| Ibane Bowat | Tendon injury | Summer 2025 |
| Callum Lang | Hamstring | Summer 2025 |
Hughes said: “Callum Lang’s injury was unfortunate – we’ve had a heavy reliance on him
because he’s such a good player. The injuries we’re seeing are indicative of the level we’re playing at.
“The Championship is such a physical league – The thing we’ve struggled with is that our injuries have been concentrated in one area.
“We’ve had an average number of injuries, but mainly affecting our starting centre backs. Huge credit to Marlon Pack and Ryley Towler, who kept us going through a tough period.”
Pack and Towler standing tall for Portsmouth
Although Pompey fans were expecting Mousinho to rely heavily on his long-term captain Pack this season, few will have seen the 33-year-old playing more matches in central defence than in midfield.
Pack’s performances at the back have been reflective of Portsmouth’s dogged spirit to keep themselves out of the Championship’s bottom three, having climb out of the drop zone and up to 17th in the table.
Though Portsmouth still have the joint second-worst defence in the second-tier with 57 goals conceded – level with Cardiff City in 21st – their recent spell of three straight wins saw them concede just twice.
Towler being able to operate in defence and midfield has also proven invaluable for Mousinho against the backdrop of so many rearguard casualties, and at 22 can be a fulcrum of the side for years to come.
Sunday’s meeting with Leeds – a rematch of the opening day which saw Lang score a screamer – will likely see another re-jigged backline for Pompey, but one which is well on course to securing their safety.