Portsmouth boss reeling after ex-Crystal Palace man suffers yet another cruel set-back
The 21-year-old has totalled just 45 minutes of first-team football for the Blues since joining in September 2025
Franco Umeh’s Pompey injury misery continues after tearing a hamstring for the second time in eight months.
The 21-year-old suffered a fresh set-back last week, when he was forced off in a friendly against Kuwait SC - just 11 minutes into what was a comeback match.
It has since been diagnosed as yet another hamstring issue, with the Blues now waiting to learn from a specialist on the potential length of absence.
Since arriving at Fratton Park in September 2025 from Crystal Palace carrying a hamstring injury, Umeh has totalled just 45 minutes of first-team football, consisting of two appearances.
The winger also suffered a groin injury last month - and now faces another sizeable spell on the sidelines in his ongoing battle for fitness.
‘It does feel like injury, after injury after injury’
Mousinho told The News: ‘Franco is naturally very, very, very disappointed. He did it in the Kuwait SC game, it was a poor challenge, but unfortunately his hamstring went again.
‘He has done both of his hamstrings across the time he has been here, but it was a different one to which he had surgery on in January. I don’t know how long he’ll be out, we’re waiting for a specialist's opinion on that, but it’s not going to be short-term.
‘I don’t want to speak in terms about Franco’s future at the moment, it is obviously really difficult for him.
‘He has only been in the building for a year, but it does feel like injury, after injury after injury. At some point he’s got to make sure he stays fit and gets on top of these types of things.’
Four wingers in Portsmouth’s treatment room
Umeh’s ill-fated outing against Kuwait SC represented his first - and last - outing this summer as the Blues sought to ease him back into the action.
Mousinho is also currently without fellow wingers Keshi Anderson (quad), Josh Murphy (groin) and Harvey Blair (hip flexor) ahead of Pompey’s first Championship match of the season on Saturday against QPR.
However, his attacking options have been boosted by the signing of Abu Kamara, who is expected to go straight into the side for the Fratton Park clash.
Another new winger, Luke Brooke-Smith, started against West Ham last weekend, representing the 18-year-old’s debut in the English game.
The former Wellington Phoenix youngster could well keep his place on the left flank against QPR, with Murphy still not ready to return following groin surgery in April.
In contrast, Umeh’s last Pompey outing was in the FA Cup third round against Arsenal in January, when he tore his hamstring in the final moments of the match.
Mousinho added: ‘I’ve looked at Franco’s injury from last week and the way he did it, I don’t think there’s much he could have done about it. We will review everything we do there.
‘It’s just a tough one for him to take. It was a pretty poor challenge, but we’d still hope his hamstring holds up in that situation. Unfortunately it didn’t.’
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