Portsmouth dressing room respond to worsening injury crisis amid savage Conor Shaughnessy blow
Pompey are fearing the worst over Conor Shaughnessy’s injury, as their crippling injury crisis deepened - here’s the dressing room verdict.
Connor Ogilvie vowed to fill the void created by Conor Shaughnessy’s loss as he assessed the factors behind Pompey’s worsening injury crisis.
And the Blues defender believes he can strike up a close understanding with Regan Poole, with the pair impressive amid Shaughnessy’s latest desperately disappointing fitness setback.
Ogilvie on Shaughnessy: ‘You don’t want to see your mate go through that’
Ogilvie put in a fine showing along with Poole in a resolute central defensive link-up, in last night’s 1-1 draw at Watford.
John Mousinho opted to pair the duo in the face of the loss of Shaughnessy, who picked up a quad issue in the weekend win at Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Leeds United man is now potentially facing a lengthy stint out, with Pompey set to seek a second opinion to confirm the extent of his stay on the sidelines.
Ogilvie summed up the disappointment felt at losing a player of Shaughnessy’s ability, while also feeling for his mate on a personal level.
The 29-year-old is prepared to now to step up amid the injury blow, doing what’s required to help his team find the answers to their latest setback.
Ogilvie said: ‘It’s gutting, it’s really gutting.
‘You really don’t want to see one of your mates go through something like that.
‘He’s got injured and then gets it again and again. It’s so disappointing, but we’ll support him now.
‘He’s massive for us, a big presence at the back and a leader, so it’s a big loss.‘We’ll get around him now, give him what he needs and help him to get back out there as soon as possible.
‘I’ve played centre-back numerous times now, it’s not new to me and I know what’s required.
‘Myself and Regan are good friends off the pitch, so hopefully we can bring that to the pitch now.
‘We’re roomies so we spend a lot of time together.
‘We talk and we go through games together in the room sometimes and have a chat, I think we’ll be fine.'
Shaughnessy’s latest blow adds a new chapter to a succession of calf and hamstring issues, in his time at Fratton Park.
He now makes it 11 players sidelined for Mousinho’s side, an incredible number which is crippling Pompey’s hopes of Championship survival at a critical moment in the season.
Pompey man discusses injury list factors
Supporters are now once again asking questions about the reasons behind the extent of the injury woes, with Ogilvie pointing to the the volume of fixtures and changing intensity in the game as factors.
He added: ‘In football you get injuries. I think we’ve had a few more than we would’ve liked, but it’s just something you have to deal with.
‘Everyone has to step up and come together as a group.
‘The schedule is jam-packed these days and there’s the intensity of the game and how we play as well.
‘You just need to do whatever you can do to get ready for the next game.’