John Mousinho updates on Gavin Whyte after absence in Portsmouth friendly
John Mousinho has issued an update on Gavin Whyte, with the Northern Irishman absent from the first Portsmouth match of pre-season.
Whyte travelled with the Pompey squad to last week's pre-season training camp in Croatia, but was missing from the trip to neighbouring Gosport on Tuesday and will also be unavailable for matches against Havant & Waterlooville and Bognor Regis Town this weekend.
The former Cardiff and Oxford forward missed the end of last season through illness, and Mousinho confirms a few minor injuries have held back his progress.
Speaking to The News [17 July], the head coach said: "Gavin missed the first couple of days of pre-season and is returning from a couple of niggles, we want to make sure he’s fully fit.
"He has been out on the grass in the last couple of days and we expect him to train with us at the back end of this week. We’re being cautious with Gavin as he’s missed a bit of football.
"He’s just had a couple of minor niggles, different muscular injuries, there has been nothing too major, we’re not really concerned, it’s just making sure he gets back. This weekend is probably a step too far, so we’ll look to involve him the week after."
Whyte desperate for strong Portsmouth season
Signed as a former teammate of Mousinho with previous Championship experience, Whyte appeared a good recruit on paper for Portsmouth.
Despite his obvious talent, the frustration he has had to endure with being unable to build momentum with a run of games will be at boiling point for him, even more so than the Fratton faithful.
His debut season yielded just one EFL Trophy goal and three assists in 33 games, a record he will be keen to improve upon in the Championship if he is able to stay fit for an extended period.
Despite his presence as a senior international with Northern Ireland and a player with a solid professional career to date, Whyte falls into a category of Portsmouth players whose future at the club is uncertain based on what impact they could bring in a critical year.
Pompey have a pair of pre-season visits to EFL opposition - namely MK Dons and Charlton Athletic - coming up before the big day arrives at Leeds on 10 August, with Whyte hoping to gain important minutes.
In other Portsmouth news, the club could have a real coup in the contract extension of Zak Swanson.
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