Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Fri 14 March 2025 11:25, UK

Kusini Yengi has endured more than his fair share of struggles at Portsmouth since promotion to the Championship.

There were high hopes among John Mousinho, his staff and the Pompey hierarchy for the Australian striker, who was handed the number 10 shirt and expected to fill the void left by Colby Bishop as he underwent heart surgery last summer, to lead the line in the second tier.

It was a challenge Yengi looked to relish, given his scintillating form during parts of the League One promotion campaign. He was on cloud nine, and a terrace favourite among the Fratton faithful.

Yengi news could spark turnaround

Several months after Yengi was seemingly entrusted with the baton of spearheading the attack, he picked up a series of injuries that he couldn’t shake off, and Bishop has since returned, scored six goals and reclaimed his undisputed berth up front.

Now into mid-March, and the 26-year-old – who perhaps unwisely suggested his limited experience playing for Portsmouth in the Championship was as easy as in League One – has struggled to remain fit, is yet to score or assist and has only managed three starts.

But Yengi still has time to turn his season around. Some exciting news dropped on Friday (14 March), with the striker called up to the Australia squad for their international matches against Indonesia and China.

With everything crossed he returns to England fit and sharp, Yengi could have a chance to reignite his goalscoring form, having scored six goals in 11 full Socceroos caps.

The Portsmouth hitman was sent off for Australia against Bahrain back in September which scuppered his momentum through suspension, but he has since returned to the scoresheet in the famous green and gold – and all the hope remains he can rediscover that in the famous blue and white.

Portsmouth need to maintain the goals

Portsmouth could really do with Yengi becoming a viable Championship option up front – the survival task is not completely done and dusted just yet.

Defeats to Luton Town (1 March) and Plymouth Argyle (12 March) – who were both bottom of the table when facing Pompey – ironically sandwiched the roaring Fratton Park win over Leeds United – league leaders, no less – last Sunday.

Callum Lang is the sole player to fire double figures in the league for Portsmouth this year which has made his injury blow a bitter pill to swallow.

In his absence, Bishop has fired six – not bad for a striker who missed the first three months of the season after his heart operation and is stepping up to the Championship for the first time; Josh Murphy has the same number, plus nine assists.

Beyond that, no one has surpassed four and one of the players on that tally is left-back Connor Ogilvie. Mousinho needs all his attacking players to maintain both form and fitness until the end of the campaign.

Many Pompey fans are anxious over Yengi’s Socceroos call-up, but to others it’s a positive – it can give him back the positive energy he needs to effectively contribute in a blue shirt between now and May.