‘We don’t really know’: Portsmouth dealt fresh Josh Murphy injury blow ahead of Ipswich Town and Preston
Josh Murphy has registered six assists in 14 appearances for Pompey this season.
John Mousinho has admitted he is unsure when Josh Murphy will return to action after being dealt a fresh injury blow.
It’s been a frustrating second campaign at Fratton Park for the winger, who has been limited to just 14 appearances for the Blues so far.
Having missed over a month’s worth of action between September and October due to an ankle issue, the 30-year-old has missed a further six weeks of action after being withdrawn against Derby County after initially feeling his hamstring.
Since then, Murphy has yet to return to match action, with Pompey currently in the midst of an impressive turn of form, which has moved them four points clear of the relegation zone.
Mousinho was hopeful of a return at the beginning of February for the popular forward, who amassed 21 goal contributions last term, but admitted he was having injections to manage other ‘ailments ‘
Although the head coach allayed any fears over further injury to Murphy at the time, the Blues boss has since confirmed the winger is nursing a new ankle problem.
Pompey deal fresh Josh Murphy injury blow
And the Blues boss hasn’t put a timescale on when the Fratton favourite could complete a comeback.
Speaking after Saturday’s 3-0 win over West Brom, Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: ‘Josh is still struggling with the ankle issue that he’s got, the boot that you saw up at Sheffield Wednesday.
‘It’s just not settling down as we would have hoped, so it’s one of those that I'm trying to be as honest as possible, I’m not fobbing anyone off but we don’t really know what the return date is.
‘We’re monitoring it, we’ve got another scan in 10 days which would have been six weeks post when he’s come off it completely. We’ll see how that is.’
Pompey’s current injury situation
Murphy was last seen in action during the Blues’ 1-1 draw against Derby before Christmas and was taken off early in the second half after feeling his hamstring.
The forward was one of 10 players who missed Saturday’s victory over the Baggies due to injury, including Callum Lang who has been heavily tipped with a move to Preston North End before Monday’s deadline.
Mark Kosznovszky (knee) and Franco Umeh (hamstring) have both already been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, while Josh Knight (back) and Florian Bianchini (knee) are long-term absentees having missed more than two months of action.
Hayden Matthews is four weeks into his 10-week lay-off with an ankle issue, while Conor Shaughnessy could return at the end of February with his quad problem not as bad as first feared.
Thomas Waddingham (quad) has been sidelined since September with a quad injury but is expected to return this month alongside Harvey Blair, who picked up a hip-flexor issue against Arsenal.
The Blues are also monitoring Colby Bishop’s fitness after he was withdrawn from Saturday’s victory against West Brom after turning his ankle.