Portsmouth to give defender chance to prove his fitness for crucial Swansea game
John Mousinho has provided an update on Regan Poole’s fitness ahead of Tuesday night’s game against Swansea at Fratton Park
Regan Poole’s chances of featuring in Pompey’s game against Swansea on Tuesday night are rated as ‘50-50’.
The Blues are yet to decide if they can call upon the centre-back for their Championship challenge against the Swans.
And they will not know for sure until they put the 27-year-old through a late fitness test in the build-up to the game tomorrow morning.
Poole injury latest
Poole had to be substituted during the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers. He came off on 67 minutes and was replaced by the returning Conor Shaughnessy after picking up an ankle injury in the game at Ewood Park.
No player has racked up more league starts for Pompey this season, with the Welshman named in 32 of John Mousinho’s starting line-ups this term.
Shaughnessy’s return to action after a more than five weeks out because of injury helps lessen the blow, with the former Burton defender in contention to start against Swansea if Poole doesn’t prove his fitness in time.
However, the Blues intend to give the centre-half every opportunity to feature in what is another crucial game in Pompey’s season.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mousinho said: ‘We’re not sure about him for the game tomorrow.
‘We’re going to have a fitiness test in the morning to see how he is. He’s about 50/50 at the minute’.
Pompey v Swansea
Pompey sit 19th in the table and five points clear of the Championship relegation zone going into the game against Swansea, who have moved up to 14th in the standings following Vitor Matos’ appointment at the end of November.
The Portuguese has won 10 of his 20 matches in charge, including the Swans’ 1-0 victory over the Blues in Wales on December 9.
They were behind the Blues on goal difference in the table on the day of his appointment but are currently nine points better off.
Whlle Poole, who has built up a good partnership with Connor Ogilvie in the centre of Pompey’s defence, is a doubt for the game against Swansea, Mousinho expects to welcome back John Swift after his hamstring injury meant he missed Pompey’s past two games.