‘The player of old’: Portsmouth boss’ Conor Chaplin hope amid Ipswich Town man’s testing Fratton stay
The Ipswich Town man’s Pompey homecoming hasn’t gone as hoped, but his team are still looking for a Championship survival hero to step up with eight games to go.
John Mousinho hasn’t given up on Conor Chaplin’s Fratton homecoming reaping late-season joy.
The Pompey boss insisted the Ipswich Town loanee is giving a ‘huge amount’ to his side, despite his much-touted return to PO4 failing to bring the anticipated goals and assists.
Mousinho on Chaplin: ‘It’s just that output, goals and assists really’
And Mousinho still thinks Chaplin can step up for his club, as the Blues look for a survival hero with eight games remaining this season.
There was quite rightly a huge fanfare over the academy graduate’s loan capture from the Tractor Boys, as the summer window reached an exciting climax.
The deal hasn’t reached the highs hoped for, however, with Chaplin returning just a single goal and three assists from 36 appearances to date.
The 29-year-old was back out of the starting XI at QPR last weekend, as Pompey served up an atrocious display in the 6-1 thrashing.
There was signs of Chaplin’s campaign accelerating in January, as he took a central role with a goal and assist in the 3-0 victory over West Brom at Fratton Park.
That came amid a run of six starts on the spin, with Pompey’s form picking up in the new year through a run of four wins and two draw from eight league outings.
Chaplin was ruled out for three games with a groin injury after the defeat at Preston North End, however, stalling his progress when there was signs of impactful form.
Now Mousinho is hoping the former Barnsley and Coventry City man can step up, as Pompey look for a survival spark this season.
He said: ‘With Conor, we know exactly what he gives us.
‘He gives us a huge amount of leadership and huge amount out of possession on the pitch.
‘When he did come into it around that run of games around Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Southampton and West Brom.
‘I thought he was at his best.
‘The big thing to add to everything positive Conor has given it’s just that output, goals and assists really.
‘We know that’s his bread and butter and could do with a bit more of that, then we will start to see the player of old.’
Frustration over Chaplin injury as he looked to have Pompey impetus
Speaking to The News over Chaplin last week, Mousinho expressed sympathy for the player’s misfortune this season - particularly his latest injury coming as Pompey put in impressive back-to-back displays at West Brom and Millwall last month.
He said: ‘Maybe there is that frustration from my point of view where, having scored that goal against West Brom, if Conor had stayed fit and stayed in the side, maybe something comes off the back of that.
‘Particularly where we scored six goals across the two games (against Charlton and Millwall). Does something drop for Chappers? I don’t know.
‘Hopefully the spark comes soon - from a bit of confidence when something goes well for him in a game.’