‘Juggle around’: Portsmouth boss weighs up massive Middlesbrough selection decision
The Pompey boss gives an insight into his defensive selection thinking for the huge match at the Riverside Stadium.
John Mousinho believes he now has good options to make his huge Middlesbrough defensive calls.
And the Pompey boss reckons he has the capability to ‘juggle things around’ at the back for the huge trip to take on the promotion chasers.
Mousinho on defence: ‘May or may not juggle those things around’
The Blues go to the Riverside Stadium today with the back line one of the key areas of the pitch under the microscope with the stakes high.
Pompey could conceivably be without Connor Ogilvie, with the left-back due to start a three-game ban in the event of his appeal for his Oxford United dismissal being unsuccessful.
Conor Shaughnessy’s involvement is another big factor, with the key defender still having his minutes managed as he builds his return from a quad injury.
Mousinho has stated he doesn’t expect the 29-year-old to start both the clash at Boro and Tuesday’s home meeting with Ipswich Town.
Additionally Josh Knight is now back in selection contention, with the £1m signing from Hannover 96 last summer sidelined since December with a back stress fracture.
Jordan Williams did a decent job replacing Ogilvie at left-back on Monday, as he picked up his first minutes in nine games.
Madiodio Dia started Good Friday’s trip to Norwich City, while Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat are other considerations in the middle of the back line.
Mousinho said: ‘We’ve got good options at centre-half, the left-back options is something we’re managing.
‘In terms of recent travelling squads and the squad which travelled to Norwich, it was Conor Shaughnessy, Madiodio, Regan Poole and Ibane Bowat.
‘At home we’ve had Hayden Matthews and Josh Knight so there’s a lot of options there and we can see all six have played games this year, so we may or may not juggle those things around a bit.
‘I’m not obsessed with having a left-sided centre-half on the left.
‘We played the majority of the League One season with Conor Shaughnessy there as a right footer as a left-sided centre-half.
‘We played some games last season with Marlon there and Regan’s been there a fair bit.
‘It does give you a different dynamic having a right-footed centre-half or a right-footed left-back, as we’ve seen this year.
‘So I’m not obsessed with it, it’s just got to be the best player for us on the day to win the game.’
Shaughnessy not expected to start both Boro and Ipswich games
Speaking to The News on Wednesday about his defensive options, Mousinho gave both some insight on his thoughts on playing Shaughnessy over the next two games - and potentially replacing the League One title winner with Dia.
When asked about his plans for Shaughnessy, Mousinho said: ‘It will be what we saw last weekend, where we decided to change the centre-half partnership on Friday to have Shaughs ready for Oxford.
‘We do feel we have players who can come in and affect things.
‘We brought in Madiodio who I thought was good last Friday and grew into the game in the second half.
‘He was up against some extreme talent there, so we’ve got some good options and if we go with those options, we can manage.’