Portsmouth early team news v Leeds United: Callum Lang one of seven ruled out
Portsmouth look set to be missing seven players through injury when they take on Championship leaders Leeds United on Sunday.
Star man Callum Lang is among those who will miss out on the action when Portsmouth host Leeds this weekend.
Lang has been a key figure for Pompey this season, as he has notched 10 goals and two assists in 29 Championship appearances.
One of his best performances of the campaign came when he bagged a brace on the opening day of the season, as Leeds and Portsmouth played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Elland Road on 10 August.
Lang and six others set to miss Portsmouth’s clash with Leeds
While Lang is a key figure for Pompey, he has not featured for John Mousinho’s men since their 2-0 win over Oxford United on February 15, courtesy of a hamstring injury.
On Sunday, the forward will be joined on the sidelines by Hayden Matthews, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Paddy Lane.
| Callum Lang stats | 2024/25 Championship |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 2 |
Both Lang and that quartet of Portsmouth teammates will be missing for the rest of the season, while Rob Atkinson and former Leeds man Conor Shaughnessy won’t return from their respective injuries in time to take on the Whites.
Meanwhile, the fitness of full-back Jordan Williams remains a doubt as he has not featured since Pompey’s 5-1 defeat at West Brom on 25th January.
Portsmouth could be in for a tough afternoon against Leeds
Portsmouth can still take plenty of heart from last August’s 3-3 draw at Elland Road, given the fact that Leeds have established themselves as the Championship’s league leaders and appear on course to book their spot in next season’s Premier League.
But facing an in-form Whites side, who recently defeated automatic promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield United, would have already been a difficult task for Pompey even without their current raft of injuries.
Having to now contend with Daniel Farke’s free-scoring Leeds without the services of seven players, including star man Lang, could prove all the more daunting for Mousinho, who is up for the Manager of the Month Award.
If the Whites emerge victorious at Fratton Park, that would mark two consecutive defeats for Pompey, who were left disappointed by their 1-0 defeat at the hands of relegation candidates Luton Town last Saturday.
But even if Portsmouth do suffer their second defeat in a row come Sunday, they will still fancy their chances of retaining their Championship status, as they sit eight points clear of danger.