Portsmouth blow as John Mousinho provides injury update on duo ahead of Stoke City
Pompey injury latest ahead of Saturday’s Championship showdown against Stoke City.
John Mousinho has ruled Marko Milovanovic out of Saturday’s huge Championship contest against Stoke City.
But the head coach has made it clear Iyad Mohamed’s setback is not as ‘severe’ after he was also withdrawn against Swansea City on Tuesday.
Goals from Terry Devlin and Thomas Waddingham extended the Blues’ unbeaten streak to six matches as they lifted themselves level on points with the play-offs.
But, Mousinho suffered a double injury blow in the success, with both Mohamed and Milovanovic withdrawn in the second half.
Milovanovic, who is also known as Marezi, pulled up with a quad problem in the 73rd minute as he attempted to chase down Terry Devlin’s pass forward.
The striker, who made his fifth start in six matches, limped off and was subsequently replaced by Waddingham, who was already being readied to come on prior to his injury blow.
Pompey blow with striker ruled out against Stoke
Mousinho, though, has confirmed the multi-million pound summer signing will undergo scans on Thursday to determine the extent of the quad issue.
And the head coach has subsequently ruled Marezi out of Saturday’s encounter against third-placed Stoke in their final game before the international break.
He told The News: ‘Marko is going to have a scan tomorrow (Thursday) so we will find out more.
‘I don’t know (how long he could be out). We won’t see him this weekend and then we’ll see how that settles down. It doesn’t look great when a player pulls up like that but you never know.
‘He was okay this morning but I think the scan will tell everything. It was his quad.’
Pompey boss provides Iyad Mohamed injury update
Prior to Marezi’s withdrawal in the triumph, Mohamed was taken off just nine minutes into the second half and replaced by Marlon Pack in the engine room.
The midfielder went straight down the tunnel at Fratton Park to receive treatment after complaining about a calf issue soon after the break.
Mousinho admitted after the win that the summer signing was taken off as a precaution in his sixth successive Championship start for the Blues.
In a fresh update ahead of Saturday’s key game with third-placed Stoke, Mousinho revealed Mohamed will also undergo a scan alongside Marezi to determine the extent of the setback.
But the head coach is confident the 25-year-old’s issue isn’t as severe as the striker, leaving the door open to a potential inclusion against the Potters.
‘Exactly the same (as Marezi). I don’t think Iyad’s is anywhere near as severe as Marko’s and so we’ll see what the results are there.
Pompey will still be without Colby Bishop (knee), John Swift (knee), Keshi Anderson (hamstring), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Luke Brooke-Smith (ankle) and Benjy Arthur (back) for the visit of Mark Robins’ side this weekend.
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