Bishop and Shade selection call with Milovanović sidelined: Portsmouth boss weighs up Blackburn Rovers shout
John Mousinho backed Colby Bishop to return to the Pompey goal trail, as he weighs up his No9 options with Marko Milovanović sidelined.
But the Blues boss acknowledged Tyrese Shade presents an alternative striking consideration, as he weighs up his attacking formula for Blackburn Rovers.
Bishop was favoured in the 0-0 draw with Charlton Athletic on Saturday, as he led the line at The Valley.
The 29-year-old couldn’t provide the final touch for one second-half opening, as Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s cross flashed across the face of goal.
Bishop’s blank means he has just a single league finish to his name in open play in over a year, stretching back to the 1-1 draw at West Brom in August of last year.
Despite that, Mousinho was pleased with the League One title winner’s all-round game, against the partnership of Tyler Bindon and Charlton captain Lloyd Jones.
And he thinks Pompey creating chances for their front man means his luck will change in front of goal, as he considers his selection for Saturday.
Mousinho said: ‘I felt Colby led the line really well and his work-rate is always exceptional.
‘He was up against two very physical centre-halves and competed really well.
‘I think he was really close to that chance at the back post from Ryan (Kavuma-McQueen’s) cross.
‘It’s just one of those where we hope the ball will fall into the back of the net for him soon.
‘We just want to make sure we keep creating chances for him.
‘Whoever they fall to we need to put them into the back of the net.
‘I thought we created plenty at Charlton, so ultimately we need to keep creating and keep doing the same things.’
With Marko Milovanović sidelined and expected to miss the clash with Blackburn next week, Bishop and Shade are the striker considerations for Pompey’s return to Fratton Park.
Shade has been deployed down the left flank in his two games so far, since arriving from Burton Albion in a £2.2m deal.
But the former Eastleigh man does offer the flexibility to lead the line, in the Blues final outing before the three-week international break.
Mousinho added: ‘I like Tyrese off the left.
‘He’s played a huge amount in a 3-5-2 and two up top over the past year or so.
‘He does really well and does like to drift out to the left as well.
‘So I think he has the capability to do both (play as No9 and off the left wing).
‘He has the capability to play anywhere across the front four, but he can also be a real threat off the left as well.’