Portsmouth boss details fresh injury update on key defender ahead of crucial Sheffield United showdown
Pompey face Sheffield United at Fratton Park on Wednesday evening.
Pompey will not put a timeframe on Conor Shaughnessy’s injury return.
Although John Mousinho has reiterated the popular Irishman will not be a ‘long term’ absentee.
The centre-back was sidelined for Sunday’s south-coast derby against Southampton after sustaining a groin issue in the 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the final game before the international break, which forced him off in the 63rd minute at Fratton Park.
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Although the Blues boss admitted a fitness call would be made over Shaughnessy ahead of the St Mary’s encounter, he later revealed the defender was ‘nowhere near ready’ to play any part. .
This required Regan Poole and Madiodio Dia to line up at the heart of the backline, with both Shaughnessy and Benjy Arthur continuing to sit out with their respective setbacks.
Fresh Conor Shaughnessy injury update ahead of Sheffield United
Attention now turns to Wednesday night’s crucial contest against Sheffield United, with Pompey looking for a much-needed return to winning ways having gone winless in their previous three Championship matches.
And it’s a contest the 2023 arrival will also be forced to miss as he currently remains out of the picture with an ongoing groin issue.
In fact, the Blues are opting against putting a ‘timescale’ on his comeback as question marks over his fitness remain.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: ‘We’ll have the same squad to select from as Sunday.
‘He’ (Shaughnessy) is fine. We’re just taking that one day-to-day at the minute so we’ll see how he is. (It’s) nothing long-term but there’s no point putting a time scale on it.
‘It’s very unlikely (that Shaughnessy plays against Sheffield United)’.
Pompey injury latest
Mousinho explained there’ll be no other returning faces for the midweek clash.
Connor Ogilvie and Franco Umeh have both been pencilled in to complete their respective comebacks in November, while the Blues are hopeful Josh Murphy can return later this month.
Thomas Waddingham, Luke Brooke-Smith and Arthur are also all sidelined for the visit of Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, Keshi Anderson made his first outing of the campaign on Sunday, when he came off the bench with 14 minutes remaining.
The winger had missed the opening months of the season after tearing his quad during their July pre-season training camp in Ireland.
Marko Milovanovic was also required from the bench at St Mary’s, having recovered from the minor calf issue which forced him to miss the final two matches before the international break.