Pompey have suffered more hard-to-take news on the injury front

Pompey have been dealt yet more tough injury news.

The Blues have confirmed that young winger Franco Umeh could well be out for the rest of the season.

The former Crystal Palace winger was substituted in the 84th minute of the Fratton Park side’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday with a hamstring injury, after replacing Harvey Blair - also injured - in the first half.

It’s now been confirmed that the 20-year-old will quite possibly miss the rest of the Blues’ Championship campaign as a result of the torn hamstring sustained.

Umeh was making only his second appearace for Pompey following his summer move from Premier League Palace. His Blues debut was delayed until the visit of Charlton on December 29 because of a hamstring injury he was nursing when he joined the club. The Irishman has managed only 52 minutes of football since his August arrival.

Fellow winger Blair also picked up an injury in the game against the Gunners. However, the hip flexor issue he suffered will only keep him out of action for three weeks.

Umeh’s injury comes just a week after midfielder Mark Kosznovszky’s campaign was cut short with a knee injury.

What has been said about Franco Umeh injury

Proving the latest on Umeh, head coach John Mousinho said: ‘Franco’s torn his hamstring, so I suspect it will be a difficult one for Franco to return at some point this season.

‘Not because of the severity of the injury necessarily, but because, if and when he’s back after 6-8 weeks, I think it’s going to be a long, long buuld-up before he’s ready to go again.

‘Having come back and not started a single game for us, to expect him to contribute at the end of the season might be a difficult one.’

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Pompey’s injury crisis

Both Umeh and Blair’s injuries takes the number of Pompey players unavailable for Saturday’s hugely-important trip to Sheffield Wednesday to nine.

That presents a true test of the Blues’ resources. No more so than in attack, where six injuries to attacking players leaves Pompey down to the bare bones.

At present, the ony fit attacking players on Pompey’s books are Colby Bishop, Makenzie Kirk, Adrian Segecic, Conor Chaplin and John Swift. However, none of this quintet are wingers - an area the Blues need to strengthen before the close of the January transfer window.

On Tuesday, the Fratton Park side were linked with moved for attacking duo Millenic Alli (Luton) and Nesta Elphege (Grenoble).

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