'Surely no-one can disagree' - Portsmouth boss told to make 'best' selection choice for Oxford United game
John Mousinho has a selection headache ahead of Pompey’s game against Oxford United at Fratton Park
Pompey need to start with their best XI for today’s hugely-important game against relegation rivals Oxford United.
That’s the verdict of The News’ Neil Allen, who said both Conor Shaughnessy and Andre Dozzell need to be restored to the starting line-up, despite Jojo Dia and Luke Le Roux not looking out of place during the Blues’ crucial draw at Norwich on Good Friday.
Both Dia and Le Roux were surprisingly utilised from the start at Carrow Road due to Pompey’s injury issues - including both Shaughnessy and Dozzell, who started the game on the bench following their own battles with fitness.
However, Allen believes the inexperienced duo need to step aside for what is the Blues’ biggest game of the season so far, despite their more big-game colleagues’ lack of match minutes.
Allen: Best team has to start today
Speaking ahead of the the game against the U’s, Allen said: ‘It's not a game to give people ago or give someone a run in the team to see if they come good, for me. It's best team.
‘The best team has to start today. Get Conor Shaughnessy in there, get Andre Dozzell in there. Sorry to Jojo Dia and Luke Le Roux, but you're not probably in the best XI at the moment. There's better players out there.
‘I'm sure you'll come good sooner or later next season or whatever, but in the here and now, Pompey's best team has to start. So Andre Dozzell and Marlon Pack in midfield, Conor Schaughnessy and Regan Poole at the back.
‘It's the best centre-back partnership in the football group. They have to start. Surely nobody can disagree with that.
‘I don't care about giving someone a go and, oh, okay, Luke Le Roux did all right in a very defensive role at Norwich.
‘Pompey need to win this game. Andre Dozzell has to be in the starting XI for me. Same with Conor Schaughnessy.’
Dozzell’s introduction as a 64th-minute subsitute against the Canaries proved inspired at it was his free-kick delivery that forced Pelle Mattssson to force the ball into his own net as Pompey scored an 84th-minutes equaliser.