Mousinho shares update on Portsmouth striker search as Bishop admission made
Portsmouth’s squad looks desperately short of strikers as they approach the new season.
Pompey visit Oxford United for their opening game of the Championship season on Saturday with Thomas Waddingham as their only fit striker.
Colby Bishop is currently the only other striker in John Mousinho’s squad, but he will be unavailable for up to three weeks with a groin injury.
This injury has exposed a lack of depth in Portsmouth’s squad that Mousinho will surely be hoping to fix before the transfer window closes.
Mousinho provides Portsmouth transfer update
It’s believed that Portsmouth had been searching for new forwards before Bishop suffered this injury, but have been unable to attract a suitable player to the club.
Speaking at a fans forum event hosted by BBC Radio Solent (4 August), Mousinho explained why it has been so hard to bring in new forwards this summer.
He said: “If you were a centre-forward who wanted to get game time in the Championship and I started to speak to you, I’m pretty sure you’d turn around and say ‘haven’t you got that Colby Bishop fella who plays as many games as possible?’ I’d say yes and then you wouldn’t sign for Portsmouth.
“Not to say we’re not trying to strengthen in that area. It’s a very difficult thing.
“We’ve played one up top for 99 per cent of the games that I’ve been here, so when we’re trying to strengthen underneath a player who, apart from the heart surgery, has played every single game since I’ve been at the football club, that can be really tricky.”
Mousinho confirmed that Portsmouth were looking for a striker who is good enough to compete with Bishop for a starting place, but is also happy to share playing time with him.
He compared it when Harry Kane was at Tottenham, as few strikers wanted to play second fiddle to the England captain at that time either.
Mousinho has caused his own problems by selling Saydee
Mousinho made the decision to sell Christian Saydee to Wigan this summer.
Saydee only managed three goals in 29 appearances last season, but he did offer something different up front.
His strength and hold-up play could have proven priceless in games where Pompey need to hold onto a slender lead. He can cause chaos in the opposition penalty box if his side needs a late goal. It certainly would have been useful to have him as an option while Bishop nurses his groin problem.
It’s believed that Saydee asked to leave, and Mousinho was kind enough to help him find a new club.
| Christian Saydee Portsmouth statistics | |
| Contracted | June 2023 – June 2025 |
| Appearances | 73 |
| Goals | 7 |
Wigan came in with a bid for the Liberian striker, and Pompey aren’t exactly in a position to turn down money for one of their fringe players.
Still, it’s this decision that leaves Pompey worryingly short of options as the new season approaches.
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