Ian Darke shares what he’s heard about Ogilvie amid ‘extraordinary’ Portsmouth news
Portsmouth are back to square one in terms of attempting to forge a longer-term defensive line-up following recent news.
The injuries John Mousinho and his Portsmouth squad have endured have yet again reared themselves, especially at the back, and the situation has left the head coach with barely any options.
It became worse ahead of last weekend’s trip to then-bottom side Luton Town (1 March) which ended in a first win of 2025 for the Hatters, and now Pompey have to face league leaders Leeds United at Fratton Park (9 March), comfortably the most prolific scorers in the Championship.
Darke warns future Portsmouth arrivals
Portsmouth defenders have had it so desperately unlucky with injuries this season that even future defensive signings need to “watch out”, according to Ian Darke.
The TV commentator and Blues fan, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, has mulled over the possibilities of what Mousinho could do in the next few games with his backline.
At Luton, the head coach opted for Marlon Pack as a stand-in defender again alongside Regan Poole, leaving Ryley Towler on the bench; Zak Swanson and Connor Ogilvie could also act as temporary centre-halves.
“I’ve heard talk that we could bring Ogilvie across to the middle because he can play there, but if he played, they’d be pushing past a dozen different partnerships at the back,” Darke highlighted.
“It’s extraordinary. If you’re a central defender and you’re going to sign for Pompey, watch out – because you’re probably going to get injured quite quickly.
“I’ve never known anything like it, to be honest with you. So Ogilvie could be an option, I wouldn’t be too keen on Swanson there, and then Pack has been back there. They’ve had all these partnerships at the back, yet not been able to play Poole and Shaughnessy together who were probably the first-choice pairing when the season started.”
Mousinho expected to persist with Poole and Pack v Leeds
Mousinho is of the hope that both Shaughnessy and Rob Atkinson can feature again before the season comes to an end.
Portsmouth have missed their talismanic Irish defender Shaughnessy for the majority of the campaign, with his two calf injuries combining for five months on the sideline, then a hamstring injury hitting a few weeks after his return.
| Portsmouth – natural centre-backs | Status |
| Regan Poole | Fit |
| Ryley Towler | Fit |
| Conor Shaughnessy | Approx. 6 weeks |
| Rob Atkinson | Approx. 6 weeks |
| Hayden Matthews | Out for season |
| Ibane Bowat | Out for season |
Atkinson was out for two years before signing on loan from Bristol City at Fratton Park, a risky arrival in that respect but his performances until a fresh injury against QPR were excellent.
Pack has been preferred to Ryley Towler for Portsmouth in central defence while Swanson and Ogilvie remain in the full-back positions, and Poole is currently the first name on the teamsheet.