Fresh injury set-back prompts Portsmouth transfer rethink over problematic position
The Blues’ only fit wingers at present are Harvey Blair and newcomer Eoin Kenny
Pompey’s latest winger set-back has forced a transfer rethink, according to John Mousinho.
Franco Umeh has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering a groin injury in training as the former Crystal Palace man’s Fratton Park agony continues.
He joins Keshi Anderson (quad) and Josh Murphy (groin) on the sidelines, leaving the Blues’ wide options alarmingly sparse at present.
Late in the second half of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Wycombe, triallist left-back Arvin Appiah occupied the left wing, while Ibane Bowat was asked to operate on the right flank.
Numbers will soon be boosted with the impending signing of New Zealand international Luke Brooke-Smith, an 18-year-old winger with A-League side Wellington Phoenix.
‘It’s very frustrating, we want to see a bit more of him’
However, with remaining options including Harvey Blair and newcomer Eoin Kenny, Mousinho acknowledges it's a position which may now be strengthened even further during the summer transfer window.
He told The News: ‘Franco picked up a groin injury in training. I think he will miss the next four weeks.
‘We just can’t keep him fit at the moment, unfortunately. It’s very frustrating, we want to see a bit more of him.
‘Ultimately, we have to take a pulse of where we are with the wingers and the injuries that we’ve got - and I think that’s going to be a big focus in terms of what we want to bring on over the next couple of weeks.’
As a consequence, he was left out of the Blues’ opening three pre-season friendlies as they eased him back into action having been blighted by hamstring problems over the previous 12 months.
Regardless of their precautionary approach, however, the 21-year-old still collected a fresh injury, much to Mousinho’s obvious frustration.
Keshi Anderson’s Pompey agony
Another injury-ravaged winger has been Keshi Anderson, who has featured just seven times since his free-transfer arrival in January.
The former Birmingham man has been ruled out for three months after tearing his quad during their pre-season training camp at Fota Island.
Anderson previously tore his hamstring just 15 days into his Fratton Park career - and after 39 minutes of first-team action.
He returned following a 10-game absence to score on his full debut against Oxford United in April, although ended up missing the final three matches of the season after suffering yet another hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Murphy returned to full-time training this week after recovering from a groin operation at the end of April, although it is unclear whether he will feature in a pre-season friendly.
The Blues have fixtures at Farnborough (July 29) and SV Darmstadt (August 1) ahead of the 2026-27 season opener at West Ham in the Carabao Cup on August 8.