Portsmouth could realise their huge mistake as former Fratton Park favourite shines
Portsmouth find themselves desperately short of forwards with less than a week until the start of the new Championship season.
Colby Bishop has been sidelined with a groin injury for at least three weeks, leaving Thomas Waddingham as the only recognised striker available for selection.
This comes after the club decided to release Kusini Yengi and sell Christian Saydee to Wigan this summer.
Portsmouth could have egg on their face as Saydee shines for Wigan
Saydee enjoyed a momentous debut for Wigan on Saturday.
The Latics beat Northampton 3-1 in their opening fixture of the new League One season. Debutant Fraser Murray bagged a twice, but fans were just as keen to praise Saydee’s performance on social media.
Many were mesmerised by the Liberian’s strength and hold-up play.
Saydee’s superb performance happened on the same day that John Mousinho revealed Bishop’s injury to the media.
While Saydee was unlikely to start for Portsmouth ahead of Bishop, he was seen as a reliable back-up and would surely have played while their main man was injured.
Instead, Mousinho looks set to start the season with 20-year-old Waddingham as his only fit striker.
Portsmouth find themselves in sticky striker situation
Mousinho had plenty of good words to say about Saydee before selling him. He would have been aware that the sale left him short of strikers.
The goal would surely have been to replace him, most likely with a loan signing or a young player who’d be happy as Bishop’s understudy.
As of now, they have been unable to find a player who meets that description.
Mousinho has always been honest with the players he doesn’t see as starters. He’s not one to stand in a player’s way if he wants to leave.
However, selling Saydee is currently looking like a huge mistake.
| Christian Saydee Portsmouth statistics | |
| Contracted | June 2023 – June 2025 |
| Appearances | 73 |
| Goals | 7 |
Waddingham is far from an expert at holding the ball up or outmuscling defenders. He has only played five games of Championship football, starting just one.
And what if he gets injured? Then, Portsmouth would be really stuck.
Mousinho needs to sign a couple of strikers this week as a matter of urgency to prevent the situation getting even worse.
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