‘Did take its toll’: Honest Portsmouth striker opens up on Fratton Park struggles - as exciting fitness promise made
Thomas Waddingham has amassed 12 first-team appearances for Pompey following his January 2025 arrival.
Thomas Waddingham has opened up on his injury nightmare at Fratton Park last term.
And the 21-year-old has revealed the mental strain he endured as fitness woes hampered his season.
After suffering a number of injury setbacks following his January 2025 arrival, the striker started the 2025-26 campaign on a high, featuring in all of the Blues opening five league and cup matches.
Pompey strikers injury issues
However, fitness issues took its toll once again just weeks into the new season, tearing his quad in training during the September international break.
What followed, though, was a near seven-month lay-off after undergoing surgery and subsequently remained absent until April 2026.
Despite initially being touted with a return in February, Waddingham suffered a number of setbacks, which continued to push back his Championship comeback.
The striker did complete his return off the bench against Stoke City in late April, before featuring again in their season-finale against Birmingham City at Fratton Park.
That is the strategy Pompey will now take heading into the new campaign to ensure Waddingham remains fit and available for the whole season.
Honest Thomas Waddingham opens up on Pompey injury struggles
And the honest Aussie has opened up on his injury issues last term as he looks to avoid a repeat of his woes.
He told The News: ‘It was something where we were working so hard but I just kept having setbacks. That was obviously really annoying for me.
‘Definitely tough but we can learn from that now and go from there.
‘We know things we could hold back on and just ways to improve on how I can stay fit for the whole season. That’s the goal.
‘I kept redoing the same injury so we were working very hard to try and do the right things but unfortunately that’s football, that’s life and that happens. But we’re now working towards staying fit for the whole season.
‘It’s very frustrating because personally for me coming from Australia, I just want to play as many minutes as I can and be with the boys and help them out as much as I can.
‘The fact I couldn’t do that as much last season did take its toll so I’m trying to put that behind me and look forward.’
Waddingham, of course, scored on his Pompey debut during a 5-1 defeat to West Brom in January 2025, just days after his switch from Brisbane Roar.
Since then, the frontman has totalled 12 outings for the Blues in all competitions and is looking to remain available for the new campaign, which gets underway next month.