Portsmouth handed welcome injury boost as defender in contention to make comeback against Derby
Key Pompey defender hands Blues positive injury news
Pompey have been handed a welcome boost on the injury front.
Fresh from securing a much-needed win against Blackburn Rovers that sees them climb out of the Championship’s bottom three, John Mousinho has revealed some positive news regarding Regan Poole.
The defender, who has been the Blues’ most consistent player so far this season, has missed Pompey’s past three games with an ankle injury he sustained in training ahead of last week’s abandoned game at Charlton Athletic.
The fact the 27-year-old was also being sent for a scan to determine the full extent of the problem suggested he might be someone who will be out for a while, alongside the likes of fellow defenders Conor Shaughnessy and Conor Ogilvie.
Yet, those fears have been eased over the past 48 hours, so much so that Poole has a chance of being involved against Derby County next week.
In his and fellow centre-back Josh Knight’s abence, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat have stood in, with the latter scoring the Blues’ winner in their come-from-behind win against Blackburn.
Full-back Jordan Williams was asked to act as a makeshift centre-back in the latter stages of that victory after Matthews had to be substituted because of cramp.
But with Poole on the comeback trail quicker than expected, such measures will be reduced ahead of the upcoming busry festive period.
Mousinho delivers positive Poole injury update
When asked about Poole’s availability following the win against Blackburn, Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: ‘Regan’s back out running. He will probably be back for Derby, if not then QPR or Charlton.
‘It’s one of those that has really settled down. The swelling was really bad initially, but it’s settled down.
‘We were on the training pitch with Regan this morning, he’s not kicking a ball yet but he’s in a good spot.’
Josh Knight latest
Poole was an ever-present in the Pompey team before his injury, playing every single minute of the Blues’ Championship campaign before picking up the ankle issue in training.
But while he’s on course for an early return, the timeframe around Knight’s comeback is less defined.
‘It’s just his back,’ said Mousinho. ‘It hasn’t settled down and there’s a bit of bruising there, a bit of bone bruisimg. We’re just monitoring that.
‘I don’t really know the timescale, it keeps being one of those that’s 50/50 every weekend. But nothing serious, but it just needs to settle.’