Franco Umeh has endured a frustration year at Fratton Park followng his move from Crystal Palace at the end of the 2025 summer transfer window

Forgotten Pompey forward Franco Umeh has been set a target to complete his latest injury comeback.

Although Blues boss John Mousinho has admitted the club won’t be holding the winger to their desired return date as they look to tread carefully with his recovery.

The 21-year-old has been sidelined since August 5, after he tore his hamstring in the behind-closed-doors pre-season victory against Kuwait SC at Pompey’s Hilsea training base.

Making his comeback following a seven-month stint in the medical room for a separate hamstring injury, the former Crystal Palace youngster played just 11 minutes of the game in just his third run-out for the Fratton Park outfit.

Umeh’s previous appearances for the Blues came against Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 11, which followed his Pompey debut as an 89th-minute substitute against Charlton on December 29.

In total, the Irishman has racked up just 62 minutes of football since swapping Selhurst Park from PO4 last September, making him a player the Fratton faithful have seen very little of.

Yet Mousinho is hopeful all that will change soon as they look for Umeh to finally get his Pompey career up and running.

Providing the latest on the player’s road to recovery after a hugely frustrating year on the south coast to date, the Blues boss told The News: ‘Franco is okay, we are looking at around November as a return date.

‘But we aren’t rushing that, just because of the severity of the hamstring injuries he’s had in the past.’

Subscribe for free to watch our latest Pompey Talk videos on our YouTube channel

Pompey’s winger situation - who’s available and who’s not

With a return pencilled in for the near future, Pompey can look forward to Mousinho’s wing options improving.

At present, Umeh is one of three wingers currently sidelined, with Josh Murphy (groin), Keshi Anderson (quad) and Luke Brooke-Smith (dislocated ankle and fracture fibula) also receiving treatment ahead of the forthcoming international break.

Anderson could be back to feature against Southampton on October 11, with Murphy six weeks off a potential return.

However, New Zealander Brooke-Smith isn’t expected back until the new year after the ‘freak’ injury he suffered in training last week.

Abu Kamara, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Tyrese Shade and Eoin Kenny are the Blues’ current wing options ahead of Saturday’s visit of Blackburn Rovers to Fratton Park.

Fellow winger Harvey Blair is currently not under consideration after the former Liverpool youngster was omitted from the 25-man squad list Pompey has registered with the EFL.

Umeh’s name was also absent, but he remains eligible to play as he remains classed as an under-21 player.

For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth boss on 25-man squad decision over former West Brom and Chelsea man