Portsmouth boss details extent of Conor Shaughnessy’s involvement ahead of QPR
Conor Shaughnessy has amassed 12 appearances for Pompey in an injury-hit campaign at Fratton Park
John Mousinho has given the green light for Conor Shaughnessy to play some part in Saturday’s crucial game against QPR, despite featuring against Derby County on Monday.
But the head coach has admitted the Irishman is still a while away from completing a full 90 minutes as he steps up his fitness return.
It’s been a hugely-frustrating campaign for the popular 29-year-old, who has been limited to just 12 appearances so far this term.
After starting the season on a positive note - featuring in the opening six Championship matches - a hamstring injury suffered against Sheffield Wednesday in September would rule him out for more than three months.
But just four games into his much-anticipated comeback, Shaughnessy sustained a quad issue in the reverse fixture against the Owls in January - forcing him to miss a further nine Championship matches.
Despite a 23-minute outing on his return against Blackburn Rovers at the start of the month, the League One title winner was then a surprise absentee for the Blues’ defeat to Swansea City just three days later.
Pompey boss details extent of Conor Shaughnessy involvement at QPR
This means Pompey will likely rely on Regan Poole and Connor Ogilvie as their main operators at the heart of the backline in the remaining nine matches of the campaign.
Shaughnessy, of course, came off the bench on the hour mark during Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Derby, which represented just his 12th of the campaign so far.
Although Mousinho has warned over the former Burton Albion man’s availability in a double-game week, the head coach remains positive over a potential involvement in Saturday’s all-important game against QPR.
While a 90-minute performance is still off the table, Shaughnessy is expected to play ‘some part’ at Loftus Road as the fight for survival continues.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent ahead of the trip to the capital, Mousinho said: ‘No, I don’t think he could play 90. Definitely fit enough to play some part but 90 minutes is unlikely.’
Conor Shaughnessy fitness admission
Shaughnessy has amassed just 21 games in all competitions for Pompey since the start of last term amid a continuous battle with injury.
The popular centre-back told The News earlier this week: ‘It’s a discussion we had weeks ago (not being rushed), so I’m looking to build slowly back into it at the back end of the season.
‘Initially the plan’s to play one game a week, as I come back into it.
‘The fitter I get and the more minutes I play, I think that will change and I will get back to being available for every game.
‘The plan has to be to get fit and stay fit and available. That’s what the manager wants and that’s what I want - to be available for every, single game. If that means easing my way back in, then so be it.’