Portsmouth eye Luke Brooke-Smith return date after teenage star’s devastating injury blow
More details have emerged over when the New Zealand starlet will hopefully be back in action, after his devastating Pompey injury blow.
John Mousinho is adamant Luke Brooke-Smith will play again this season as he pencilled in a date for the winger’s return.
The Pompey boss is eyeing the start of 2027 for the teenage winger’s return to action, after suffering a devastating ankle injury blow.
Brook-Smith successfully underwent surgery on Tuesday, following being hit by an ankle dislocation, ankle ligament damage and leg fracture.
The training ground incident was revealed by Mousinho last week, after a promising start to life at PO4 for the £400,000 capture from Wellington Phoenix.
Brooke-Smith has been laid low by the news, but Mousinho believes the New Zealand international has the strength of character and fitness to bounce back from the sizable setback.
Mousinho is confident Brooke-Smith will feature for his team this term with a date eyed, though the Pompey boss explained there is no definitive target for him to be back playing.
When asked if he now thinks Brooke-Smith will play again this season, Mousinho said: ‘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.’
The fact Brooke-Smith suffered multiple injuries is an indication the severity of the setback, as he now embarks on a long period of recovery.
Mousinsho feels the ligament damage represents the most concerning issue for the Whangarei-born talent to deal with.
He added: ‘He’s got ankle ligament damage and a fracture.
‘The dislocation is back in, but because the ankle was dislocated it causes the ankle ligament damage.
‘Then there’s the fracture as well, but the biggest issue is the ligament damage.’