John Mousinho’s hardline injury stance over Portsmouth favourite ahead of Stoke City showdown
Gustavo Caballero has netted one goal in 14 appearances during his loan stay at Fratton Park.
John Mousinho has ruled Gustavo Caballero out of Saturday’s trip to Stoke City.
The head coach has insisted the Blues ‘won’t risk’ utilising any of his current injured cohort in the remaining two matches of the campaign.
The Paraguayan has missed Pompey’s past three matches after sustaining a groin issue in their 1-0 triumph over Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Caballero had been a regular fixture in Mousinho’s frontline following his deadline-day loan signing from Brazilian top-flight outfit Santos in February.
The winger netted one goal in 14 outings prior to his setback, which has seen him subsequently sit out the recent victories over Ipswich Town and Leicester City, as well as Tuesday’s defeat to champions Coventry City.
John Mousinho’s hardline injury stance ahead of Stoke City
That picture looks to have changed, though, with the head coach making it clear none of the Blues’ current injured players would be risked at the Bet365 Stadium this weekend.
Caballero is joined in the treatment room by Terry Devlin and Keshi Anderson, who both sustained hamstring issues against Leicester last Saturday. Meanwhile, Aji Alese, Zak Swanson, Josh Knight, Mark Kosznovszky and Franco Umeh will miss the final two matches of the campaign.
Speaking during Friday morning’s press conference, Mousinho said: ‘There will be absolutely no point in us even looking at that. So all of the players that are borderline with their own injuries, we won’t risk at all.’
It remains to be seen whether Caballero has played his final match for Pompey, with his loan deal coming to a close after the final-day contest with Birmingham City.
Pompey’s winger situation
Caballero is one of two members of Mousinho’s forward line who are currently sidelined due to injury.
Anderson sustained a hamstring problem six minutes into last Saturday’s triumph over Leicester and isn’t expected to feature again this term.
The dangerman’s minutes will be monitored closely in the remaining two matches, with Mousinho ruling out a starting role.
Millenic Alli and Harvey Blair have been ever-present in the Blues’ match-day squads in recent weeks, while Florian Bianchini returned to the fold earlier this month after recovering from knee tendonitis.