Portsmouth's on-loan Brentford defender's absence against Blackburn Rovers explained - and it's not good
Major update on defender Benjy Arthur after he’s forced to missed Blackburn Rovers game.
Benjy Arthur sat out Pompey’s game against Blackburn Rovers today with a stress fracture in his back.
The defender, who is currently on a season-long loan from Brentford, is now expected to be out for a significant period as he recuperates from the blow.
Indeed, three months has already been identified for his recovery, with the centre-back not due back until the new year.
‘Benjy has picked up a stress fracture in his back unfortunately,’ confirmed Pompey boss John Mousinho to BBC Solent after the Rovers result.
‘It’s a massive blow to Benjy and a massive blow to us as well. That’s going to be one that keeps him out for quite a few weeks. We’re probably looking at at least 12!’
Arthur’s featured six times for Pompey since his switch to Fratton Park on August 26 and had put in some assured performances in that time.
His place in the team was handed to Jojo Dia for the game against Blackburn, with the Senegal defender playing alongside Conor Shaughnessy in the centre of the Blues’ defence.
However, Dia ended up seeing out the game alongside Regan Poole after Shaughnessy was forced off just after the hour mark against Rovers.
Mousinho added: ‘He (Shaughnessy) just felt his groin. Hopefully, it’s not too bad.
‘It wasn’t anything major, if you think back to the hamstring injury he had here last season against Sheffield Wednesday.
‘Hopefully, that settles down over the next few weeks, because he’ll be a big miss.’