Portsmouth considered homecoming for big favourite as former Sheffield United, Stoke City and Aston Villa man weighed up for Fratton deal
The League Two title winner was a Fratton consideration to solve Pompey’s left-back emergency, as John Mousinho explains why no free agent is likely to arrive at PO4.
Pompey mulled over bringing Enda Stevens back to Fratton Park before calling off their search for an emergency defender.
The News understands the Blues weighed up the League Two title winner and former player of the season as an option to solve their lack of left-back options.
But a move never advanced for the 35-year-old, who is a free agent after leaving Stoke City this summer following two years with the Potters.
Stevens instead appears set to return to the Republic of Ireland, with a deal with his former club Shamrock Rovers in the offing.
John Mousinho explained Pompey have scoured the free agent with no fit senior option available, as both Jacob Farrell and Connor Ogilvie sit on the sidelines for extended periods.
Ultimately, the view from the Blues is there is no one who is currently available in that market ready to come in and quickly help solve the lack of left-back options.
Stevens arriving would certainly have been a nostalgic deal, given the impact the international had in two years at PO4 when signing from Aston Villa in 2015.
The massively popular figure went on to make 99 appearances across two seasons for Paul Cook’s side, culminating in the epic final-day title victory over Plymouth and Doncaster Rovers. Stevens was named The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season on that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon, when the 6-1 triumph over Cheltenham saw Cook’s men take the silverware.
He made 21 appearances in each of his seasons with Stoke, following on from six successful years with Sheffield United after leaving PO4 as a free agent.
Stevens is set to return his homeland, however, as he currently trains with Shamrock, with a reunion with Cook at Chesterfield another previous consideration.
It means Jordan Williams will most likely fill the void on the left-hand side this weekend as Pompey return to Championship action against Millwall, with Mousinho needing to consider whether to return to a back four after using three central defenders in the fixtures against Wrexham and Hull City.
Mousinho: ‘We’re not bringing anyone in’
Mousinho confirmed Pompey have called off the free agent search, using the example of Alex Milosevic signing last season but failing to reach the necessary fitness levels as the reason why.
He said: ‘We’ve had a look at the market, it’s always a difficult one to try to assess. There’s nothing that’s jumped out at us, so we’ve not signed anyone, we’re not bringing anyone in and we’re pretty happy with the choices in the building.
‘There are no new players who are going to become available to us from this point onward, we’re pretty happy with the situation in terms of what we have.
‘It’s a really difficult one for anyone out of contract at this stage of the season. They’ve not signed for a club and most likely missed the last six months of football, even if they’ve been training with a club or doing a bit here and there.
‘A player who comes in it will take four to six weeks for them to get up to the level. We saw that last season when Alex (Milosevic) came in January and he struggled physically to get into the swing of things.
‘With that, we’d be looking at the start of January by which point we’d be able to bring some in either as a permanent or loan - or we could reassess Faz’s situation or see where Connor is.’