Savage Portsmouth injury reality bites as academy hopes readied for Sheffield Wednesday
The Pompey boss has never seen injury pain like it in management - with the academy set to be called upon for the Championship clash at Hillsborough.
John Mousinho admitted Pompey may have to turn to academy hopefuls at Sheffield Wednesday amid deep injury pain.
The savage extent of the Blues’ fitness issues means there may well be emerging talent from within the club’s rankings stepping up to the senior squad at Hillsborough.
Academy youngsters set for Sheffield Wednesday involvement
Mousinho has been hit with an injury crisis he rates as the worst he’s seen in management, as his team return to Championship action tomorrow.
Pompey are currently without nine players for the meeting with the division’s basement side, who, of course, are dealing with huge issues of their own while in administration.
Two new names were added to the list after the Arsenal FA Cup clash, with Mousinho confirming Franco Umeh’s season is likely at an end after suffering a hamstring issue and Harvey Blair (hip flexor) sidelined.
Key men Josh Murphy (hamstring) and Callum Lang (hamstring) are missing, with Mark Kosznovszky (knee) out for up to 12 months in a desperate blow for the midfielder.
Defenders Josh Knight (back) and Hayden Matthews (ankle) are likely missing for months, with Florian Bianchini (knee) and Thomas Waddingham (quad) completing the injury tale of woe.
Millenic Alli joined on loan from Luton Town on Wednesday night, but there’s every chance Pompey will not have enough senior players available to face Sheffield Wednesday.
That will certainly be the case if Alli’s capture isn’t followed by further additions, before today’s midday cut-off to feature this weekend.
That means the likes of academy prospect Tayo Singerr could once again be called upon, after the attacker got his first senior minutes at Bristol City on New Year’s Day.
Pompey boss: ‘We’ll make a decision on Friday’
Defender Ashton Sizer has also been around the senior squad this season, while midfielder Fraser Thomas stepped up in pre-season and earned praise from Mousinho for his performances.
The Pompey boss confirmed there’s every chance youngsters will be called upon again.
When asked if academy players will be involved at Sheffield Wednesday, Mousinho said: ‘Potentially, we’re always open to it if we don’t have the numbers.
‘We’re going to take stock of where we are, see if there’s any transfer activity and then make a decision on Friday.
‘The players have been back with the academy, because we had the numbers to fill the 20 against Arsenal.
‘But they’ve handled themselves with real credit in tough circumstances so far, when coming up and training with the first team.
‘They’ve handled the tough demands as well such as Tayo coming on and playing at Ashton Gate, so we’ll see where things stand.’