Season over for Portsmouth £1m capture as outlook for former Leicester City and Peterborough United man confirmed
The campaign is over for Hannover 96 signing Josh Knight, as Swansea City’s Florian Bianchini takes the final space in John Mousinho’s 25-man squad.
John Mousinho has confirmed Josh Knight will not play again this season after the final space in his 25-man squad was filled.
The defender will not feature over the final four games of the campaign, despite making a return to the fray after four-and-a-half months out with a back stress fracture.
Mousinho on Knight call: ‘Decision based on centre-halves we have fit’
That’s after the Pompey boss took the decision to register winger Florian Bianchini and hand the final space in his 25-man squad to the Swansea City winger.
Knight has endured a tough maiden season at Fratton Park, following his capture from German side Hannover 96, for a fee in the region of £1m.
The 28-year-old made 14 appearances before his season was stopped in its tracks, with his his last outing coming against Bristol City at the end of November.
Mousinho stated at the start of the month the former Leicester City and Peterborough United man was back in training, but has now made the decision to not register Knight with a number of alternative options available in his department.
The Pompey boss explained the call was one the player was understanding of in the circumstances.
He said: ‘That is one where we’ve made a decision based on the centre-halves we have fit.
‘We have six centre-halves and Josh is one of those. Connor Ogilvie can play there, but with the injury to Gus (Caballero) it was needs must in terms of making that decision.
‘We spoke to Josh about it and he completely understood.
‘Under different circumstances and it was back in January when we played Southampton with one fit centre-half we would’ve done the opposite.
‘As it is now, we’re pretty spoilt for choice there.’
Knight will begin the second year of a three-year agreement next term, with his challenge to affect the first-team picture at PO4.
Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Madiodio Dia, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat make up the other options in his department at present.
Mousinho added: ‘It’s a tough one for him because he obviously wants to play.
‘He’s worked hard to get back ahead of schedule with the stress fracture he’s had, so it’s a tough one to take but he’s understood it really well.
‘He gets it and he’s going to come back fit and firing for next year.
‘He now needs to train hard between now and the end of the season, then come back right at it in pre-season.’