Portsmouth favourite provides promising injury update as recovery ramps up

Conor Shaughnessy has revealed caution is being taken over his recovery from a significant hamstring injury sustained in September.

But the 29-year-old is adamant his rehab is ‘going to plan’ after stepping up his progress in recent weeks.

The popular central defender suffered a hamstring tear during the Blues’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday two months ago, which has forced him to miss the previous 10 Championship matches.

Shaughnessy was initially ruled out for 12 weeks, with a return currently pencilled in for the end of December.

And his recovery is progressing well and begun running at the Blues’ Hilsea training base last week as he continues his road to full fitness.

Although his rehab is ‘slow and steady’, the League One title winner remains positive over his current injury situation as he eyes a long-awaited comeback.

Conor Shaughnessy provides injury update

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent’s Who Needs Mousinho podcast, Shaughnessy said: ‘Rehabbing my injury at the minute but it’s all coming along as planned, feeling really good. I’ve been out on the grass running over last week so it’s quite a big, positive step for me.

‘It’s all going to plan so over the next few weeks just building up fitness to get back into training and involved.

‘Do you know what? I haven’t actually asked the physios for an exact date because I don’t want to be let down when we get to that date.

‘It’s slow at the minute, I’m just just jogging so nothing crazy but it’ll be slow and steady for the next couple of weeks building up and then three, four weeks of slowly building up the pace and intensity whilst alongside that doing all of my gym work.

‘I think I get a re-scan on my hamstring just to double check everything’s absolutely fine, which we fully expect will be the case, then once that’s ticked off I can go into the sprinting and high-speed stuff for a couple of weeks.

‘Then get back involved in training and once I’m back in training, however long the gaffer wants me to train for before I become back available.

‘With an injury like that, you know straight away that it’s never going to be a good one. I would’ve liked to have continued running down that side of the pitch and get the ball but that would’ve been impossible and would’ve damaged my leg much more than it is already.

‘Straight away your thinking please don’t score, which unfortunately they did, once that went in I’m thinking I don’t want to be in the physio room for any length of time.

‘It’s a difficult one but these things happen and you just have to learn to get on with it. It’s another mental challenge but one I will overcome and I will come back and be better for it.’

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Conor Shaughnessy on his injury struggles

Shaughnessy hasn’t been alone in the treatment room, with the likes of Callum Lang, Connor Ogilvie, Josh Murphy and Nicolas Schmid all picking up injuries in the opening 15 games of the season,

And while the centre-back admitted his recovery has been ‘difficult’, he has been helped by his fellow injured team-mates.

‘It can be lonely at times. It’s difficult. I think mentally mainly, it’s one of the toughest challenges watching the lads go out everyday and you’re stuck inside but it’s really good staff who are looking after you.

‘Obviously, there are a few of us in there at the minute, which is unfortunate but we keep each other busy and we keep each other upbeat. It’s difficult. You get worked very hard but just mentally not being involved in training or on the grass takes its toll.’

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