Portsmouth handed much-needed injury boost ahead of tough Wrexham test

Conor Chaplin will hand Pompey a much-needed injury boost for Tuesday’s trip to Wrexham.

And there is also key updates over the fitness of both Hayden Matthews and Conor Shaughnessy as the pair close in on their respective returns.

The gruelling Championship schedule continues in midweek as the Blues visit the Racecourse Ground for the first time in 40 years.

John Mousinho’s men make the long-journey to North Wales on a brilliant run of form, having claimed successive 3-1 away wins against Charlton Athletic and Millwall respectively.

Injuries and selection issues continue to be an issue for Mousinho, with youngster Ruben Swann recalled from a loan stint at the Hawks last week and was named in Pompey’s 20-man squad at The Den.

Pompey handed crucial injury boost ahead of Wrexham test

Chaplin will strengthen their ranks against Wrexham, though, with the head coach confirming the Ipswich Town loanee has recovered from a minor groin issue.

The set-back has kept the attacker out of the Blues’ previous three matches having being ruled out for 10-14 days after the defeat to Sheffield United earlier this month.

And Mousinho has revealed the 2q-year-old will be back in the fold on Tuesday evening for another tough Championship test against Phil Parkinson’s play-off chasing outfit.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: ‘Yeah, he’s (Conor Chaplin) back in the squad for tomorrow night.’

Prior to his slight groin issue at the start of the month, Chaplin had been an ever-present in Mousinho’s side following his sensational return to the south coast in September.

The popular forward has amassed 25 appearances in all competitions for the Blues this term, registering three assists while also netting his first goal back with his boyhood club at the end of January.

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Conor Shaughnessy and Hayden Matthews latest

It’s been a frustrating injury-hit campaign for Conor Shaughnessy, who has been limited to just 10 outings to date.

After a three-and-a-half-month spell on the sidelines with a hamstring issue, the centre-back featured a further four times before sustaining a quad injury in the victory over Sheffield Wednesday last month.

Hayden Matthews, meanwhile, has been missing since New Year’s Day, where he suffered a serious ankle problem in the defeat to Bristol City.

Although the Aussie didn’t require surgery, he has subsequently missed Pompey’s previous nine matches, with Connor Ogilvie slotting in to partner Regan Poole.

The 21-year-old remains on course to complete his comeback against Hull City this weekend, while Shaughnessy has now been earmarked to return the following week for the televised trip to relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers on March 7.

Providing updates on the pair, Mousinho added: ‘Hayden (Matthews) for Saturday and Shocks (Conor Shaughnessy) for Blackburn away.’

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