‘The wrong decision’: Callum Lang makes honest Portsmouth injury admission after Preston North End switch
Callum Lang amassed 53 appearances for Pompey during a two-year stay at Fratton Park prior to his Preston North End switch.
Callum Lang believes it was the ‘wrong decision’ to rush back into action after suffering a significant hamstring issue last season.
And the forward has admitted injuries massively affected his Fratton Park career, which came to an end at the start of the month.
The 27-year-old’s winter transfer saga came to an end on deadline day, which saw him finally complete his move to Preston North End.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men paid a club-record fee for Lang’s services, with his exit bringing an end to a two-year stay on the south coast.
The League One title winner amassed 53 appearances for the Blues, scoring 16, but was limited to just 11 outings in his final 12 months due to three separate hamstring issues.
After sustaining a tear against Oxford United in February 2025, the attacker returned to action prematurely to help John Mousinho’s side clinch survival in the final three games of the season, despite being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite completing his comeback in November, a third hamstring issue sustained in December would eventually rule the Scouser out of his final seven matches at Fratton Park prior to his exit on February 2.
Callum Lang makes Pompey injury admission
And despite wanting to rush back to help with their relegation battle last term, Lang has reflected on the decision and admitted it was ‘wrong’ to return before the end of the season.
Speaking to our sister paper, the Lancashire Evening Post: ‘Yeah, I think my first hamstring injury was a pretty bad one and when you get your first injury you think you probably don't need the surgery and stuff like that. So, I pushed through it, rushed back because I wanted to help Portsmouth stay in the league with the position that we were in. I really wanted to rush back and help the team as much as possible and looking back at that, it was probably the wrong decision.
‘I came back and then I needed the surgery in the end, but now I've had the surgery I feel pretty comfortable with how it's feeling and yeah, strong in the gym, strong on the training pitch. I just need to be confident in my body to help this team. I've always gone 100% on the pitch. I like to leave everything out there, every last bit so I think yeah, probably playing out wide and just the amount of game time...
‘Obviously, the gaffer was someone who trusted me to perform for the team, so whenever I had the green light I was straight in and playing a lot of minutes. So, it probably was a bit too much, too soon and that's why I'm being managed. It’s probably the physios and the staff holding me back a tiny bit to look after me but yeah, when I get the green light to go and play and I’m on the pitch, I give everything.’
Callum Lang on his time at Pompey
And although the forward enjoyed his time on the south coast, he admitted injuries significantly affected his two-year stay.
He added: ‘Yeah, I really enjoyed my time at the club. I probably didn't play as many games as I would have liked to, or should have through an injury.
But every time I played at Fratton Park and played for the club, I like to think I left everything on the pitch and gave everything for the shirt.
‘So yeah, I had some really good times and now I just want to build on that with Preston.’
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