'Not a priority': Portsmouth boss poised to scrap long-running transfer hunt
Pompey have spent the last two months without having a recognised left-back available to them
John Mousinho is poised to shelve his left-back hunt after being boosted by a double injury return.
Connor Ogilvie is back in training after two months out with the ankle ligament injury sustained against Wrexham.
In addition, Jacob Farrell was surprisingly named on Pompey’s bench in the 5-0 defeat at Bristol City after featuring just once this term through a long-standing groin issue.
In the ongoing absence of the duo, the Blues had targeted recruiting a left-back this month, with Mousinho previously admitting it would ‘be a bit naive’ if they didn’t explore the transfer market.
However, with both now training again, the head coach concedes strengthening the position is no longer a priority ‘at the moment’.
‘Neither of them having played any minutes’
Mousinho told The News: ‘Connor is back in training, he won’t be available for the weekend. He should be back hopefully for the Watford game.
‘Jacob is back, but we are still managing him and he hasn’t had any minutes yet, so we are being cautious with that. He would have been ready to come off the bench at Bristol City, though.
‘Before deciding whether to sign another left-back, we have to see how Jacob and Connor come through the next couple of weeks. That's the most important thing as neither of them have played any minutes.
‘Jacob has not played any minutes since August, Connor hasn’t played any minutes since he got injured against Wrexham, so I’ll have to see.
‘Signing a left-back is just not a priority for us at the moment, we’ll see how these two are first.’
Absent for Pompey’s last 10 matches
Ogilvie has missed the last 10 games following a challenge from Wrexham’s Issa Kabore in the first half of November’s goalless draw at Fratton Park.
Initially ruled out for three months, right-backs Zak Swanson and Jordan Williams have subsequently switched flanks to share duties in temporarily plugging the hole left by the former Gillingham man.
Indeed, Swanson has hugely impressed in the foreign position and is expected to line up against Arsenal on Sunday (2pm) in the FA Cup third-round fixture.
It remains to be seen whether Farrell is again included in this weekend’s squad, having been an unused substitute on New Year’s Day at Ashton Gate.
That represented the Australian’s first involvement in the Pompey match-day 20 for almost five months, last featuring in the August Carabao Cup defeat to Reading.
With just two outings during a hugely frustrating 18 months since arriving at Fratton Park, Farrell desperately needs an injury-free period to prove his worth.
Set for a Watford return
In the meantime, Ogilvie is pencilled in for a potential first-team return for the Championship visit to Watford on January 21.
Mousinho added: ‘Connor has come back a bit earlier than expected, we thought it was going to the back end of January.
‘I suppose by the time we get to the Watford game, it will be close to the back end of January anyway - but he’s training now.’