Portsmouth boosted as Mousinho shares update on key duo
Portsmouth have been extremely unlucky with injuries as seven players are currently sidelined, affecting the team composition and dynamics.
John Mousinho has had his work cut out navigating through injuries to key players and lining up a strong eleven week in and week out.
The likes of Callum Lang, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat are out for the rest of the season, leaving Mousinho with no choice.
Conor Shaughnessy, Paddy Lane, Jacob Farrell and Rob Atkinson are expected to be back at some point before the season’s end as Pompey tussle to keep their Championship status alive.
Double defence injury boost for Portsmouth
Pompey secured a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers to create a seven-point gap between themselves and the drop zone.
With minimal depth in the centre-back region, Mousinho had to work his way around by naming a makeshift centre-back pairing of left-back Connor Ogilvie and Regan Poole.
Emergency free agent signing Alexander Milosevic was named on the bench as he worked on his match fitness. The South Coast side have been missing Shaughnessy and Atkinson in the defence.
A hamstring injury has kept Shaughnessy out for the last seven games; meanwhile, Atkinson’s calf injury has seen him miss the last five Pompey matches.
| Name | Total Games missed |
| Conor Shaughnessy | 33 |
| Total Games Missed | 20 |
The absence of the centre-back duo and Mousinho having no other option but to name a makeshift centre-back pairing has proved to be detrimental to Portsmouth’s results.
However, the 38-year-old delivered a key injury update as Shaughnessy and Atkinson are back on the grass and are in the final stages of their rehab.
Shaughnessy and Atkinson key to Pompey’s survival hopes
The duo of Shaughnessy and Atkinson returning to action soon will be music to the ears of Mousinho and Portsmouth fans.
The 2008 FA Cup winners have had a terrible defensive record as they are currently the third-worst defence in the Championship.
If the makeshift centre-back pairing continued to start games, it would have definitely cost Pompey as they are still not completely safe from relegation.
The win against the Rovers helped them take a huge step to safety but the job isn’t done yet. With Atkinson and Shaughnessy returning soon, Mousinho will have four proper centre-backs to choose from.
The return of the duo will facilitate Portsmouth in shoring up their defence before the final seven games of the season that could decide their fate in the Championship.