Down but not out: Portsmouth boss John Mousinho on why Fratton favourite's Blues career isn't over
The 25-year-old has played his last game for the Blues this season - and is out of contract in the summer
Zak Swanson’s season is over - but John Mousinho is adamant it isn’t the end of the defender’s Fratton Park career.
The 25-year-old underwent knee surgery last Thursday after it was decided he couldn’t play on with the injury which has sidelined him since the start of the month.
Meanwhile, Swanson’s existing deal expires in the summer, sparking fears the Fratton faithful have seen the last of him in a Pompey shirt.
Since being snapped up on a free transfer from Arsenal by Danny Cowley in July 2022, he has totalled 111 appearances and six goals, while was part of the League One title-winning side in 2023-24.
Although, with talks over a new deal ongoing according to Mousinho, the head coach insists it’s not necessarily the end of the full-back’s time as a Blues player.
‘No, absolutely not’
Pompey’s boss told The News: ‘Is it the end of Zak’s Pompey career? No, absolutely not. It’s just the end of the season for him.
‘We will just continue with those (contract talks) and see where we land. The surgery doesn’t change what we think of Zak as a player.
‘He will probably be out for 12-16 weeks with that altogether. It’s a bit of a tidy-up on the meniscus in the knee.
‘We were umming and ahhing about whether we were going to play through that or not, it’s one of those where you can with the cartilage in the knee. You can play through it, but the severity of the injury was one that we decided not to take that risk.’
Initially vying with Joe Rafferty for a right-back spot, while also hampered by injury problems, Swanson has consistently relished the first-team battle.
Even following the departure of Rafferty, the subsequent signing of Jordan Williams and conversion of Terry Devlin have provided further competition.
However, the former Arsenal man has always been an excellent performer, recognised by his long-time popularity among the Fratton faithful.
This season he has featured 35 times and scored twice, largely in an unfamiliar left-back role where he has flourished, producing some of his finest displays for the club.
‘I am hopeful he will stay’
With eight players out of contract this summer, Mousinho has long voiced his desire to keep Swanson at Fratton Park - and he’s still hoping that can be the case.
He added: ‘I am hopeful he will stay. You know what I think about Zak.
‘I have always been a big fan of his and he has played a huge part this year, wherever he’s played.’
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