‘Age is just a number’: John Mousinho lauds exceptional Portsmouth favourite still proving critics wrong
Marlon Pack has amassed 34 appearances in all competitions for Pompey this season.
Marlon Pack is proving ‘age is just a number’ as he exceeds pre-season expectations to lead Pompey’s survival bid.
And John Mousinho has once again signalled his intent in tying the Blues veteran down to a fresh deal at the end of the campaign.
The 35-year-old is enjoying an impressive career renaissance, which has seen him amass 34 appearances in all competitions to date.
It’s an outstanding turnaround for Pack, whose involvement was under the microscope in the summer following the midfield arrivals of John Swift, Mark Kosznovszky and Luke Le Roux, and January’s signing of Ebou Adams.
Despite falling down the engine room pecking order last term, the Buckland lad has come out firing this season, establishing himself as a central figure in Pompey’s quest for Championship survival.
This has seen the former Bristol City and Cardiff City man start all of the Blues’ past 13 matches, helping Mousinho’s troops to claw themselves away from danger.
How huge Pompey favourite is proving ‘age is just a number’
Now the head coach has lauded Pack’s brilliant contribution and explained how the skipper is exceeding early-season expectations.
Mousinho told The News: ‘He’s had a huge impact this year. If you’d asked me at the back end of last year, can Marlon have had a better season than what he did last year because he played out of position and was a huge, huge part of what we achieved?, I would’ve struggled to see it.
‘Since the first day we came back for pre-season and in those pre-season games he was very good - particularly at Reading.
‘He picked up a knee injury and had knee surgery at the start of the season, but he’s just been extremely good.
‘To have Marlon as part of the team and part of the squad is a pleasure.
‘Probably not (being first choice in midfield going into this season). I’ve spoken to Marlon about that.
‘I think the plan for Marlon this year was probably to keep going with everything he does on the pitch. Fantastic leader, fantastic trainer every day and maybe look to involve himself more on the coaching side.
‘As the season’s gone on, it's become more and more obvious that Marlon still has so much to offer on the pitch and he’s not there out of sympathy but because he fully deserves to be there.
‘The leadership quality that he brings, the physicality that he brings to the game and age is just a number.
‘It’s a cliche but it doesn’t actually matter. Is Marlon playing well enough to be in the side? Absolutely and that’s all we care about.’
John Mousinho ‘100-per-cent certain’ Pompey favourite will stay
The popular midfielder has totalled 151 outings for his boyhood club following his emotional 2022 homecoming and also played a crucial role in their 2023-24 League One title-winning campaign.
And after the Fratton favourite himself ruled out retirement this summer, Mousinho is ‘100 per cent’ confident Pack will be here next term.
‘I’d absolutely love to (keep him next season). I will be devastated if he’s not here but I’m almost 100-per-cent certain he will be here next year.
‘I’ll stick by what I’ve said consistently, as long as I’m at this football club I will do everything I can to have Marlon.’