‘Setbacks’: Portsmouth boss outlines reality over Connor Ogilvie’s injury return after surprise Wolves appearance
The defender hasn’t played in the Championship this season, but was present at Molineux. That’s not an indication of an impending Pompey comeback, however.
Connor Ogilvie is still a distance from a Pompey return despite his unlikely Wolves re-emergence.
Blues boss John Mousinho is now refusing to put a timescale on the defender’s return from double knee surgery, after suffering a ‘couple of setbacks’ in his recovery.
Mousinho on Ogilvie ‘Connor’s just had a couple of setbacks’
But Mousinho has confirmed Josh Murphy will return to his senior group for the trip to Burnley at the end of the month.
Hopes over Ogilvie returning five-and-a-half months on from his last appearance were raised after the left-sided player appeared at Molineux last night.
The 30-year-old was part of the first-team group for the 1-1 draw, but Mousinho has now confirmed that is not related to any impending Ogilvie appearance.
The League One title winner is, in fact, still a way off a comeback after having the second of his knee surgeries in August, following an initial op in July.
Mousinho had expected the former Spurs and Gillingham man to be back now, but has confirmed delays in his rehabilitation.
Pompey have four games in the run-up to the lunchtime meeting with Stoke City on November 7 preceding the next two-week international break.
And Murphy is set to return for the second game of that run at Burnley on October 31, following his double groin operation.
Mousinho said: ‘Connor’s just had a couple of setbacks.
‘He travelled to Wolves but that was not as a player, but someone who would be really good around the dressing room.
‘We also wanted to just try to break up the rehab programme for him so far.
So Connor’s not got a timescale at the moment.
‘We just waiting for the knee to settle down and go from there, but it’s good news that Murphy should be back for Burnley.
‘Hopefully Connor will (be back after the international break), but it’s not one we’re putting a timescale on.’
Pompey now have 10 players sidelined with Colby Bishop (knee), Conor Shaughnessy (groin), John Swift (knee), Benjy Arthur (back), Franco Umeh (hamstring), Keshi Anderson (groin), Mark Kosznovszky (knee) and Luke Brooke-Smith (ankle) all out, in addition to Murphy and Ogilvie.
Shaughnessy is being pencilled in for a comeback after the international break, with a visit to Bolton Wanderers first up on November 21.
Mousinho told The News today: ‘Shaughs isn't too bad, he’s out on the grass. He’s not in his boots yet, but he’s out on the grass.
‘My instinct with Shaughs is we’re probably going to give him the post-Stoke to come back. Then we have the two weeks after coming back into the international break to make sure he fully recovers.’