John Mousinho provides key Portsmouth injury update on trio ahead of Southampton showdown
The key Pompey injury news ahead of Sunday’s south-coast derby against Southampton.
John Mousinho has admitted Pompey will make a call on Marko Milovanovic and Conor Shaughnessy’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s south-coast derby against Southampton.
And the head coach has reiterated the Blues will not rush Keshi Anderson’s return after making his comeback to training before the international break.
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This ruled the striker, who has scored two goals in five appearances, out against Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, which subsequently saw Colby Bishop and Tyrese Shade lead the line respectively.
Key Pompey injury update ahead of Southampton
And Mousinho has confirmed a call will be made whether to unleash Marezi against Southampton on Sunday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: ‘Marko is okay. We’ll make a call on whether he’ll be available for the weekend. But he’s been in and out of training and we’re building him back up.
‘Shocks and Marko have been doing their rehab program. Marko has been back in training for parts this week, we’re not sure he’s going to make that for the weekend just yet.’
Meanwhile, Shaughnessy picked up a groin issue in the final game before the international break and was forced off in the 63rd minute of the 2-2 draw at Fratton Park.
Sporting director Rich Hughes told The News during the stoppage that the Irishman’s injury wasn’t as bad as initial fears and insisted the centre-back was already on the grass.
Like Marezi, Mousinho said the Blues will also make an assessment on the 30-year-old this weekend ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
He added: ‘Very, very similar with Shocks, we’ll see how he is for the weekend. We’ll make that decision on Saturday.
‘Shocks is slightly behind (Marko Milovanovic). Shocks has been out on the grass today and we’re going to take a view on him on Saturday.’
Keshi Anderson injury update
Anderson has yet to feature for the Blues this season after tearing his quad during their pre-season training camp in Ireland in July.
The winger, who arrived from Birmingham in January, did, however, return to training before the international break in a welcome boost amid Pompey’s injury issues out wide.
And while Mousinho admitted the 31-year-old is training he has stressed his side don’t want to push things ‘too far too soon’.
‘Keshi has been as planned so he’s a bit further on than those two because those two were more shorter term injuries. Keshi has now been back in the fold now for a couple of weeks, still modified in and out of training.
‘We don’t want to push things along too far too soon with him but he’s in a decent enough stage in terms of his injury rehabbing and he’s been out training.’