Conor Chaplin Portsmouth future latest ahead of Ipswich Town recall deadline
The Pompey boss provides the latest on Conor Chaplin’s future, ahead of Ipswich Town recall cut-off point.
John Mousinho remains confident Conor Chaplin will be staying at Pompey this season.
The Blues boss stated his view the Ipswich Town favourite will see out the campaign on loan at PO4 is unchanged.
Pompey boss believes Chaplin likely to stay at Fratton
Mousinho’s update on the attacker’s future comes ahead of the cut-off point for Chaplin’s parent club being able to recall their player.
The head coach stated last week his belief was the academy graduate will be around for the rest of the 2025-26 season, following his high-profile arrival on the final day of the summer window.
That was in the wake of discussions, when Pompey’s meeting with Ipswich at Fratton Park was postponed on January 4.
Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna then left the door ajar for a recall, however, when suggesting there was a chance the back-to-back promotion winner could go back to Suffolk. McKenna also referenced the recall deadline for Ipswich to action Chaplin’s recall, as being at the end of this week.
Mousinho has now given the latest update on the 28-year-old’s future, with no suggestion Chaplin’s going anywhere.
He told The News: ‘It’s the same (his thoughts on Chaplin staying). We didn’t have anything official, but spoke to Ipswich on the day of the (postponed) game.
‘It was an informal conversation on the day of the game at Fratton Park, but the mood around the place is still the same on that one.’
Mousinho is planning for Chaplin to be involved as Pompey return to Championship action at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. That’s the start of a busy three games in nine days, culminating in the south coast derby against Southampton on January 25.
Chaplin is still looking to get off the mark in front of goal, with his form not hitting the anticipated highs this term. Speaking to The News yesterday, the Blues boss told how he feels the academy graduate can do so from his preferred central attacking role.
Mousinho thinks best Chaplin moments lies in wait at PO4
Mousinho said: 'We’ve now had enough games with Chappers in his preferred position for him to really get going and fit in the team well.
‘He’s definitely affecting games, we just haven’t had the output in terms of goals and assists that Conor would like, let alone what we would expect. He’s definitely had a massive effect on us, though.
‘Prior to that Bristol City game we had a good run of results and a good run of games, albeit that small run of games and four games undefeated with two wins. Taking eight points from four games at that time of season for us was important, because teams at bottom started picking up results and teams in the middle didn’t.
‘We needed that and the fact we’re two games short of a lot of sides, so the contribution everyone is making in terms of morale, but particularly Conor, is great.
‘I think the season is ahead of Conor, that’s very much what we’re focussing on.’