John Mousinho drops Milosevic update for Portsmouth v Plymouth
Alexander Milosevic’s debut for Portsmouth has been set in stone by John Mousinho after his arrival on a free transfer.
Portsmouth confirmed the signing of the 33-year-old Swede on a deal until the end of the season last week, but Milosevic was unable to face Leeds United on Sunday as he awaited international clearance.
Pompey brought the former Nottingham Forest centre-back in on a free transfer after his departure from AIK last last year, and Milosevic is expected to add much-needed cover in defence for Mousinho’s side.
The Fratton Park faithful have been put through the wringer with defensive injuries this season, but with Milosevic now on board, Mousinho will be hoping the veteran can make an instant impact for the Blues.
Alexander Milosevic given green light for Portsmouth v Plymouth
Though Portsmouth are slowly welcoming back some of their defensive reinforcements from long-term injury lay-offs, Milosevic’s arrival gives Mousinho an option at the back which he’s been deprived of.
| 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 |
Furthermore, Milosevic is now available to make his Pompey debut against Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday, after Mousinho told the BBC (11 March) about when his new signing would be fit to feature.
Mousinho said: “He has got [international] clearance, so he is available for Wednesday”
“He’ll need a good couple of weeks and it’s probably the Blackburn game that we’re really targeting for him to be up to match-playing fitness.
“It doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be in a squad, but we don’t think he’s quite ready to start games yet.”
Milosevic update will be music to Portsmouth fans’ ears
Many Portsmouth fans will argue that given the extent of their injury crisis this season, the Blues weren’t far off selecting random people from the booming Fratton Park crowds to fill in at centre-back at times.
Marlon Pack certainly won’t have anticipated playing large parts of this season in central defence, but the Portsmouth skipper has often been forced to deputise given the sheer lack of players available.
Pack and the likes of Ryley Towler have held their own in a backline which, despite shipping the second-most goals in the Championship, has done enough to help Pompey clamber away from the drop zone.
Mousinho’s side sit 17th in the table and a comfortable 10 points clear of the bottom three, with Sunday’s momentous victory over Leeds United being Pompey’s fourth win from their last five league games.
Milosevic’s arrival is a timely one, and while Mousinho is hesitant to play him until the end of March, the 33-year-old could prove to be a cult hero in the making who can provide an immediate impact.