Loan struggles and frustration for Portsmouth centre-half duo amid developing Fratton Park headache
The loan duo have totalled 62 minutes between them away from Fratton Park so far
Pompey’s centre-half resources have been cut to the bone following two injuries inside a week.
Meanwhile, there has been little joy for Josh Knight and Hayden Matthews away from Fratton Park in their hunt for regular first-team football.
Benjy Arthur’s back fracture is expected to see him sidelined for the next three months, while the Blues are waiting to learn the full extent of Conor Shaughnessy’s groin issue which forced him off against Blackburn.
That leaves Madiodio Dia and Regan Poole as the only available central defenders at present, with both on the pitch at the end of Saturday’s 2-2 draw.
Well stocked for central defenders in the summer
Certainly Pompey had been oversubscribed for the position over the summer, with six available to Mousinho during pre-season, including Ibane Bowat before his exit for Huddersfield.
In the aftermath of Arthur’s arrival from Brentford for the campaign, Knight joined Reading and Matthews linked up with Bradford, both on loans.
Worryingly, however, they have subsequently failed to feature in a minute of League One action between them.
In the case of Knight, he has still to make any of the Royals five squads since his switch, with Leam Richardson claiming it is due to the defender being ‘a little bit behind’ in his fitness.
Paudie O’Connor and Benn Ward are their preferred pairing at present, with a 2-0 win over Notts County on Saturday their latest outing together. While former triallist and ex-Gillingham man Conor Masterson has been on the bench.
Since Knight was signed, Reading have registered two clean sheets and conceded five times in their five fixtures, leaving them positioned eighth in League One at present.
Certainly Richardson’s comments about the Pompey man’s fitness is intriguing, having played in five of John Mousinho’s pre-season games, albeit missing the trip to Bristol Rovers.
Indeed, he started the final friendly against Kuwait SC in a behind-closed-doors match at their Copnor Road training ground, playing 61 minutes.
What’s more, Knight came off the Blues’ bench for a four-minute cameo in last month’s 3-1 win at Lincoln in the Championship.
62 minutes of first-team action at Bradford
At least Matthews has made an appearance for his loan club, although it arrived in the Carabao Cup at Leyton Orient.
Starting the match, the Australian international featured for 62 minutes of Bradford’s 3-1 victory at Brisbane Road, with progress earning a home tie against Peterborough.
He was subsequently been excluded from the Bantams’ next two league squads, ensuring he’s been overlooked for all four League One fixtures to date.
Graham Alexander’s men operate with a back three which largely consists of Matt Pennington, Aden Baldwin and Blackburn loanee George Pratt. In addition, former Charlton defender Macaulay Gillesphey is on the bench.
Like Knight, Matthews was regularly involved in Pompey’s pre-season schedule after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in May, playing in six of their friendlies.
The pair actually formed the centre-half partnership against SC Kuwait, which finished in a 2-0 success for the Blues, days before the season started.
However, both have still to make the league breakthrough with their loan clubs as Pompey find themselves struggling for options.