Ibane Bowat injury update emerges after Portsmouth vs Reading
Ibane Bowat played his first minutes of the season for Portsmouth when they took on Reading in the Carabao Cup on 13 August.
The 22-year-old was handed a start by John Mousinho, who watched his side fall to a 2-1 defeat at Fratton Park.
Bowat played only 61 minutes in the game, but this was the Scottish defender’s first involvement for Pompey for over a year, as he missed the entirety of the 2024/25 season with a Patellar tendon rupture.
This story includes exclusive opinion from Dr Rajpal Brar, who is a doctor in Physical Therapy and a Sports Scientist.
Bowat is unlikely to be at 100 per cent
As Bowat had been ruled out with an injury since September 2024, Dr Rajpal Brar believes that he would have been playing through pain and discomfort in the game.
Even though he started, as this was his first senior game in such a long time, he still would not be at 100 per cent fitness.
This means that Bowat is still carrying a risk of re-injury and may need to be monitored by the club’s medical staff.
| Club | Appearances |
| TSV Hartberg | 34 |
| FC Den Bosch | 16 |
| Portsmouth | 1 |
Dr Brar told Pompey News: “You expect a certain level of pain and discomfort when returning to match minutes after a long-term injury and he would be feeling it.
“There’s an adaptation process for the body and mind that has to take place and so it becomes more about understanding pain management and what is acceptable and what isn’t.
“He did play a little over an hour recently, but I still don’t think he’s back at 100 per cent and may still require some monitoring.”
John Mousinho will look to get the best out of Bowat at West Brom
To maximise Bowat’s potential post-injury, Mousinho should focus on a gradual reintegration, leveraging his pace, aggression and ball-playing ability as a left-sided centre-back.
Tailored training to rebuild confidence and match fitness, ensuring no rush to avoid setbacks in the coming weeks.
Mousinho can also utilise his experience from TSV Hartberg and FC Den Bosch to position him in a possession-based system, encouraging progressive passing and defensive solidity.
Regular communication and incremental game time will foster consistency.
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