Michael Eisner’s pledge to combat Portsmouth injuries and Blues boss’ response amid ‘rife’ football fitness issues

John Mousinho promised Pompey are looking at ‘every possible angle’ to improve their fitness record amid spiking injury numbers in football.

And the Blues boss welcomed the backing of the club’s owners in upgrading medical and recovery facilities, as they look to improve results for their club on the pitch.

Pompey looking at ‘every possible angle’ to improve injury record

But Mousinho highlighted a series of wider issues in the English game, as factors which mean high numbers of players being sidelined in the modern game is 'inevitable'.

Pompey have once again been hit with the loss of a number of key men this term, with the problems being focussed in attacking areas.

It’s an issue addressed by chairman Michael Eisner this week, as he spoke to supporters via a video message at the Pompey Supporters’ Trust AGM on Monday.

Eisner’s message saw him speak about focussing resources towards on-pitch areas to improve the club’s position, with injury prevention one subject touched on.

Mousinho feels there’s a continuing push to improve medical and sports science provisions at Pompey’s Hilsea training base.

He said: ‘We always looking at injuries, we’re always looking at every possible angle to improve the injury record.

‘We’ve always got scope to invest in the medical team and the recovery protocols we have at the training ground.

‘With the facilities we have, we’ve invested in both pitches and the goalkeeping area over the summer. They are looking in really good nick at the moment.

‘All of the things we try do to make us a good football club, there’s always the willingness to do that.

‘I think we’ve made huge strides since I came to the club almost three years ago, and we were over in the Portakabins.

‘We’ve moved into this building and it’s a completely different set-up.

‘We’re working hard to improve the outside of the training ground, we have the facilities in the main building and we’re working hard to improve the pitches.

‘There’s little things we do which get backed, little things like asking for new goals which come in at 18-20K.

‘There’s no issue, ever, but those are the small things which accumulate. There’s new ice baths which have also gone in. We are always trying to improve things and the response is always positive.’

Mousinho: ‘Injuries - inevitable, they are rife across board’

A recent Fifpro report highlighted spiking injury numbers in football, and stated fixture congestion is ‘negatively impacting’ players’ health and performance.

Mousinho offered a fascinating insight into the increased strain he feels is being put on players in English football, which is contributing to this trend.

He added: ‘The volume of football has increased and the schedule is very different to what it was a couple of years ago.

‘The turnarounds in the games are now much quicker.

‘Because of Sky, we play more on a Wednesday and there’s that Wednesday to Saturday turnaround.

‘That’s fine because the income from Sky is important to football clubs, but it makes a big difference in terms of recovery times

‘The physicality of the games have increased and numbers (distances covered etc) are through the roof.

‘A lot of it is because the playing time has increased. We’re probably seeing another eight-to-10 minutes playing time versus five years ago.

‘The referees are also looking to implement more ball in play time. The PGMOL are very proud that the ball in play time has increased, but they don’t think of the consequences of that.

‘If ball-in-play time is increasing and there’s 10 minutes more playing time, that will increase the strain on players.

‘We’re not complaining about it, by the way, but with the intensity of the game going up and increased strain on players, the schedule changing and a lot of games injuries are inevitable. They are rife across the board.’