Shaughnessy and Lang situation up in the air as big Portsmouth update shared
Portsmouth have two games left to finish their successful survival campaign with a flourish in the Championship.
The Blues secured safety with a 1-0 win over Watford at Fratton Park on Easter Monday (21 April), bringing to an end months of anxiety and constant obstacles surrounding injury and budget.
John Mousinho has now not only taken Portsmouth back into the second tier but kept them there for 2025-26, and will take his side into their final two fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough (26 April), and Hull City at Fratton Park (3 May).
Mousinho admits uncertainty on Portsmouth fan favourite duo
Portsmouth not only secured survival in front of their rapturous home crowd at Fratton on Monday, but also welcomed back two more players from injury.
Conor Shaughnessy has been a massive miss for the majority of the campaign, having returned from two separate calf injuries – denying him five months of action – only to suffer a hamstring issue just weeks later.
Callum Lang was one of the crucial members of the Pompey squad to step up, saving the side at times throughout the tough periods of the first two thirds of the season. The highlight of his determined 10-goal season was undoubtedly the four-goal haul he blasted home against Coventry City (21 December).
The duo both entered the fray for the closing minutes of the Watford win, coming on to a superb reception from the Fratton faithful, who may wonder what might have been with the pair fit all season.
Mousinho, speaking to BBC Radio Solent‘s Andy Moon as shared on Moon’s X page (23 April), has admitted he is uncertain how the final two fixtures of the season will go for Shaughnessy and Lang in terms of the minutes they receive.
The stance of the head coach is understandable given there is now no need to take any unnecessary added risks.
#Pompey head coach John Mousinho says he’ll weigh up whether to risk Conor Shaughnessy and Callum Lang this weekend with nothing riding on the match. He’s unsure at this point how he’ll approach the final two matches
— Andrew Moon (@mrandrewmoon) April 23, 2025
Shaughnessy and Lang to be huge next season
If Portsmouth can keep Shaughnessy and Lang fit for the entirety of 2025-26, they can light up the Championship in a Mousinho team.
Lang really came into his own in that number 10 role this season, having spent previous years of his career out wide or as a central striker. His freedom to roam and the ability to get him tracking back with the ground he covers was instrumental over months of a tough season.
Shaughnessy’s situation is different, as his appearance against Watford was just his seventh of the campaign, the majority of which were cruelly robbed from the centre-half by three separate injury blows.
| Portsmouth | Age | Contract expiry |
| Conor Shaughnessy | 28 | 2027 |
| Callum Lang | 26 | 2026 |
We all know the impact he has on that backline by what he did last season in League One – not to mention his goal threat from the back – after all, he scored one of the most iconic goals to ever grace the Fratton End around this time last year.
A Republic of Ireland call-up appeared just a matter of time this season for Shaughnessy, which can hopefully find its way to him very soon after some excellent defensive displays in blue at the start of next term.