Portsmouth handed major Blackburn Rovers fitness boost as key man returns to fold
The Pompey injury latest on key defender Conor Shaughnessy this afternoon, ahead of the Championship clash at Ewood Park.
Conor Shaughnessy has been given the green light to return to Pompey’s Championship survival bid.
And the League One title hero has been backed to sharpen the Blues’ blunt set-piece threat, as he comes back into contention for Blackburn Rovers.
Huge Pompey favourite returns at Ewood Park
Boss John Mousinho has this afternoon confirmed Shaughnessy is back in the fold for the survival showdown at Ewood Park, following two months out with a quad injury.
That continues another injury-ravaged campaign for the central defender, with a hamstring injury limiting him to just 10 appearances this term.
Speaking at this afternoon’s press conference on Shaughnessy, Mousinho told Express FM’s David Howes: ‘He’s fit and ready to go for Saturday.’
Shaughnessy’s presence in Pompey’s side is potentially a huge weapon when it comes set-pieces, as the former Leeds United has shown in his three years at Fratton Park.
And that area of the pitch is firmly under the microscope at present, as Mousinho’s men fail to make the most of a huge amount of corners in recent games.
Pompey have not produced nearly enough from 26 corners across the past two games against Hull City and Wrexham, while the trip to Preston North End last month saw 14 corners go unrewarded.
Shaughnessy has a fine record of scoring from set-pieces, however, including the goal which secured the League One title against Barnsley two years ago.
Mousinho added: ‘If Shaughs plays, he gives you the added benefit of that physicality.
‘He showed that against Charlton when he came straight back into the fold and, all of a sudden after five minutes of being on the pitch, he put the ball in the back of the net.
‘He did time and time again two seasons ago in League One - hopefully he can give us that boost.
‘Maybe (Pompey have missed Shaughnessy from corners). Whenever we’ve had that presence at centre-back it changes the dynamic.
Shaughnessy can bolster Pompey’s impotent set-piece threat
‘If you look at the times when Connor Ogilvie has found himself free in the box, it’s when he’s played left-back and the opposition have two big centre-halves to pick up.
‘So that definitely changes when we have a different type of side out.
‘I feel physically, for the most part, we’re coping very well defensively. It’s just going forward and those attacking moments, we probably need to have a bit more belief we’re going to get our head on something and put the ball in the net.
‘We’ve had some big opportunities from corners against Hull and Wrexham where we need to do better.’