Portsmouth winger Josh Murphy's absence for final game of the season against Birmingham explained
Josh Murphy was forced to sit out Saturday’s game against Birmingham after cameo appearances against Coventry and Stoke
Josh Murphy missed Pompey’s final game of the season on Saturday after undergoing surgery during the week.
The Blues winger, who was just two games into his comeback following a broken foot that had kept him out for 22 games, went under the knife on Thursday.
The 31-year-old, who was in attendance for Pompey’s 1-1 draw at Fratton Park, had a hernia operation - something which head coach John Mousinho called a ‘minor’ procedure in his post-match media interviews.
It’s an issue the influential wideman had been nursing since November, according to the head coach.
Murphy, who was limited to just 16 appearances this season because of injury, was one of a number of notable absentees from the Pompey squad that lined up against Birmingham City on the final day of the season.
Colby Bishop (hamstring), Harvey Blair (knock) and Jojo Dia (family bereavement) also sat out the 1-1 draw.
Aftewards, Mousinho said: ‘Josh’s absence was pre-planned. He had minor surgey on Thursday, so you would have seen him today walking round, he’s got his post-surgical, sort of garments on.
‘It is minor, it was always planned. It was just whether we got it done before the end of the season.
‘What we had to do with Murph was get him through to be available if we needed him to play. And as soon as we then were safe, we obviously had the luxury (to book him in for an operation).
’We couldn’t book the surgery in between Coventry and Stoke, Murph wanted to play against Stoke, he wanted to do that, and as soon as that was done he’s had his sugery.
‘He’ll be back very, very quickly from that.’
Pompey are in no rush for Murphy or others who picked up injuries in the draw against Birmingham (Connor Ogilive - hip flexor, and John Swift) - ankle to return given the fact that the the regular Championship season is now over.
However, Mousinho said Murphy would have been back within a week of his operation.