'I'm not surprised': Injury-hit Portsmouth handed much-needed boost over skipper Marlon Pack

Pompey have finally been handed an injury boost after receiving positive news over Marlon Pack.

According to John Mousinho, the Blues skipper is currently ‘ahead of schedule’ following knee surgery last month.

As a consequence, Pack has been pencilled in for a return against QPR in the opening Championship game of the 2026-27 season.

The 35-year-old is presently running outside after undergoing the operation almost three weeks ago, having been impacted by a knee issue since towards the end of last season.

And with Harvey Blair becoming the latest pre-season casualty on Saturday, the fresh developments over Pack’s rehabilitation represent rare encouraging news.

‘He works his socks off in the gym’

Mousinho told The News: ‘Marlon’s in a great spot, he is probably a little ahead of schedule, but won’t be available for the weekend (West Ham).

‘Marlon will probably be pushing to be back for the QPR game. It might be a week too soon, but he has done this previously. He did so this time last year, when he had knee surgery and was back really, really quickly.

‘I’m encouraged. It doesn’t surprise me because Marlon recovers quickly anyway as he works his socks off in the gym.’

Pack had been managing a knee problem during the last month of the 2025-26 season, going on to feature just once in the final three games as the Blues secured Championship survival.

The Blues had hoped rest and rehabilitation over the close season would resolve the issue, with the influential midfielder dipping in and out of full training during pre-season.

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He subsequently completed 45 minutes in the opening friendly at Woking, being among 11 substitutes introduced at half-time in the 2-1 success over the non-leaguers.

However, the following morning, Pack discovered his knee had swollen up and, rather than feature at Aldershot, he was instead swiftly booked in for a knee operation.

Travelled to SV Darmstadt

Despite still rehabilitating, he accompanied the Blues on last weekend’s trip to SV Darmstadt for their final pre-season friendly, although wasn’t included in the 23-strong match-day squad.

Tellingly, all other injured players, including Josef Bursik, Jacob Farrell, Connor Ogilvie, Franco Umeh, Mark Kosznovszky, Keshi Anderson, Josh Murphy and Tayo Singerr remained in England.

For Pack, it’s reminiscent of last summer, when he missed the start of the 2025-26 season after suffering injury to his right knee during their pre-season schedule.

Having initially felt it in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brighton Under-21s, following a 20-minute outing against PEC Zwolle he underwent keyhole surgery.

As a consequence, he didn’t feature in the opening five matches of the campaign, before finally marking his entrance with a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich in late September.

Now Pack is once again battling to return during the opening month of the forthcoming 2026-27 season.

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