'We are still slightly short': Portsmouth boss' transfer admission as he targets strengthening position
Pompey have recruited wingers on loan from Swansea and Spurs during the transfer window
Pompey’s latest two additions have been wingers - and John Mousinho still admits they remain ‘slightly short’ in that area.
The loan arrivals of Florian Bianchini (Swansea) and Yang Minhyeok (Spurs) have strengthened the wide positions, with both involved in the opening day victory over Oxford United.
However, the Blues’ head coach wants to dip into the transfer market once more ahead of the September 1 deadline to bolster their wing options.
Since the end of last season, Kaide Gordon has returned to Liverpool, while Matt Ritchie is out of favour and Harvey Blair injured.
Throw in Josh Murphy’s current absence through a hamstring issue and, despite the additions of Bianchini and Yang, Pompey are still light on the flanks.
And, having already recruited six players in the transfer window, Mousinho believes there remains work to be done.
Portsmouth boss: I still think we are slightly short
He told The News: ‘I’m not sure if we still need a winger, quite possibly, I still think we are slightly short.
‘You saw when we had the injury to Murph at the weekend (against Oxford) we were down to one recognised winger starting the game.
‘Callum (Lang) did really well, but he is probably, by everybody’s admission, more of a 10. Obviously we had Minhyeok on the bench.
‘Certainly in that department, if you are looking to have any sort of successful challenge for anything then maybe it’s good to have two players in each position.
‘With Harvey’s injury at the moment, there’s a possibility we add there.’
Callum Lang playing on the right
At Oxford, Bianchini started on the left wing, with Callum Lang moved over to the right, thereby accommodating Adrian Segecic in the number 10 role.
Indeed, Lang was Pompey’s man of the match in the 1-0 triumph, while the impressive Segecic marked his debut with the winning goal.
They consisted of Yang lining up on the left wing and Terry Devlin pushed out on the right, with the latter putting several good crosses into the box during the first half, especially.
Yet, in truth, Devlin is no winger and subsequently deputised at right-back late in the second half during a reshuffle which saw Zak Swanson pushed into the centre of midfield.
Battle between loan duo to start against Norwich
With Murphy again sidelined for this weekend’s visit of Norwich, the likelihood is Lang will be on the right wing, leaving Yang and Bianchini fighting it out to start on the left.
At present, Pompey still have one remaining spot in their potential 25-man Football League list, which must be submitted several days after the transfer deadline.
However, that includes Ritchie, Tom McIntyre and Abdoulaye Kamara, who won’t be registered, irrespective of whether they are still at Fratton Park or have been moved on by then.
Effectively, it means there are still three spaces available, while Pompey still have three of their five loan slots left, having already recruited Lang and Bianchini.