‘It’s going to annoy people’: Portsmouth boss’ Conor Shaughnessy injury stance as wait for return continues
Conor Shaughnessy’s injury woe continues with John Mousinho updating on the extent of the issue - and why there’s no date for his Championship comeback.
John Mousinho is refusing to put a timeframe on Conor Shaughnessy’s return to fitness.
The Pompey boss admitted he’s conscious of the defender failing to hit a publicly announced return date causing frustration, as his injury woes continue.
Mousinho explains why no Shaughnessy Pompey return date
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But Mousinho is confident the League One title winner’s latest absence will not be a long-term issue.
Shaughnessy missed last night’s clash with Sheffield United, after being forced off with a groin issue in the 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers before the international break.
His time out will span four weeks by the time Pompey go to Norwich City on Saturday, with Mousinho down to two fit central defenders at present.
The injury is the latest in a long line problems over the 30-year-old’s availability, with the Pompey boss highlighting previous returns taking way longer than expected as a reason to exercise caution on naming a date now.
Mousinsho said: ‘We’re just taking it day to day at the moment with Conor.
‘There’s no timescale on it, but nothing long term.
‘I can put a timescale on it if you want and it’s going to annoy people when it either happens, happens sooner or later.
‘There’s no point. He’ll be ready when he’s on the team-sheet.
‘Shaughs pulled up with a calf injury in the Sheffield United game two years ago, which we thought was going to keep him out for three or four weeks.
‘It ended up keeping him out for the best part of four months and then he really struggled off the back of that.
‘It happens with injuries, we’ll just try to get him back as quickly as possible.’
Speaking ahead of the Sheffield United game, Mousinho indicated the chances are it’s unlikely Shaughnessy will be back for Saturday’s trip to Norwich City.
He joins Benjy Arthur, who is expected to be out until December after suffering a stress fracture of his back.
Connor Ogilvie has undergone two knee surgeries with his timescale for return running up next month’s international break.
Josh Murphy is recovering from a double groin op, which is expected to keep him sidelined until the end of the month.
Franco Umeh (hamstring), Mark Kosznovszky (knee), Thomas Waddingham (ankle) and Luke Brooke-Smith (ankle) are all out of action.