Encouraging injury update on Portsmouth summer signing after devastating setback
Luke Brooke-Smith featured four times for Pompey before his devastating injury blow.
Luke Brooke-Smith’s mother has taken to social media to share an encouraging injury update on the Pompey winger.
The 18-year-old summer arrival is beginning his recovery after suffering a devastating setback in a freak training ground incident earlier this month.
The head coach revealed Brooke-Smith underwent successful surgery last week but is now facing a prolonged period on the sidelines.
A return in the new year is being earmarked by Pompey, who also have Keshi Anderson, Josh Murphy, Mark Kosznovszky, Connor Ogilvie, Conor Shaughnessy, Thomas Waddingham, Benji Arthur, Marko Milovanovic and Franco Umeh out.
The injury setback represented a costly blow for the New Zealand international, who had featured four times in all competitions in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Although Brooke-Smith is still facing a significant spell on the sidelines, his mother, Clare, has taken to social media to update the Fratton faithful on the teenager’s comeback.
A message on Facebook read: ‘One week post op...Luke was back to training yesterday. Upper body strength and heart rate maintenance. He loved it.
‘Cast off next week then he begins swimming and more physio.’
John Mousinho on Pompey winger’s return date
Brooke-Smith featured four times in Pompey’s opening four matches amid injuries to wingers Anderson, Umeh and Murphy.
After a positive outing against West Ham in the Carabao Cup, the 18-year-old was handed a start against QPR in the Blues’ Championship curtain raiser.
The New Zealander featured twice more - both from the bench - before his injury blow, which will now see him out of action until the new year.
Speaking last week, Mousinho revealed Brooke-Smith’s surgery ‘went well’ and has pencilled in the ‘post-Christmas’ period as the forward’s return.
The head coach told The News: ‘Yes, the surgery went well and hopefully he will be back in the new year.
‘We haven’t got an exact date because it’s a serious injury, but we’re looking at post-Christmas for him.
‘It hopefully isn’t season ending, but he’s not going to be jumping for joy at the moment.
‘He’s as you would expect a young lad who’s come over and made a real contribution in the Championship to be.
‘His football, unfortunately, has been curtailed at the minute by a really serious injury.
‘I’m sure he will get over that and be really positive that he’s going to get himself back.
‘We’re hopeful we can get him back, but there will be no rush on it because we don’t want to pressure on Luke - but that will be the hope.
‘I think he will be stronger when he will be back as well.’
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