Portsmouth boss reveals position over Conor Chaplin’s future amid Ipswich Town man’s Fratton struggles
The Portsmouth boss has made his club’s position clear over Conor Chaplin’s loan move from Portman Road, ahead of the January transfer window.
Conor Chaplin is wanted at Pompey beyond the January transfer window.
John Mousinho has underlined he wants to see the fans’ favourite remain at PO4 for the duration of the campaign, amid a challenging Fratton homecoming.
Mousinho on Conor Chaplin: ‘We want him to stay’
And the Blues boss has assessed the contributions of the club’s other temporary attacking additions, with three weeks until the shutters come up for recruitment business in the new year.
There was a huge fanfare as Pompey pulled off a transfer coup to bring Chaplin back home on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town, on the final day of summer activity.
The academy graduate has not been able to bring the anticipated goal threat, however, failing to deliver a goal or assist from 14 appearances.
Mousinho feels the 28-year-old is putting in the work to address that situation heading into Saturday’s clash with Blackburn Rovers, however.
With January recalls standard in the transfer window, it remains to be seen what happens over Chaplin’s future in the new year - but Mousinho made it clear how things stand over the attacker from Pompey’s position.
He said: ‘I know Chappers is constantly pushing himself to increase his attacking output and contributing, in terms of goals and assists.
‘That is a big focus for us going into the weekend, particularly with Conor.
‘He got a shot off early (at Swansea) which tested Vigaroux when we broke, and there was one where we would have maybe liked him to have taken it on his left foot. When we’re in those positions, a confident Conor Chaplin playing at the top of his game in the Championship will test the goalkeeper, at least.
‘It’s just ongoing (with Ipswich over Chaplin’s future) because that moment hasn’t arrived.
‘That day hasn’t come yet, but we’ll keep in contact and we have really good contact with everyone there at the club, so we’ll make sure we stay in touch. We want him to stay.’
‘Not quite happened’ for Swansea’s Bianchini
It’s also been a tough Pompey stay for Florian Bianchini, who wasn’t named in Pompey’s squad for Saturday’s abandoned clash with Charlton Athletic and missed the Swansea City game as part of the conditions of his loan.
Meanwhile, Min-hyeok Yang has come up with two goals and an assist since joining from Spurs, as the 19-year-old South Korea international adapts to English football.
Mousinho added: ‘It’s not quite happened for him (Bianchini) yet, that’s an accurate way to put it. That’s one where he hasn’t quite had that spark, which is also an accurate way to address how we’ve been attacking.
‘With Min-hyeok we see what you see from young loanees. It’s been up and down and a little bit of inconsistency. He’s got goals and assists when he’s been in the side and everything in between. It’s a pretty normal place to be with Min-hyeok.’