Injuries mount for US Portsmouth ahead of Wessex League opener at Laverstock & Ford

Defenders Elliott Turnbull and Sean Snelling were the latest casualties during Tuesday’s 4-0 friendly win at Littlehampton.

Turnbull pulled a hamstring while Snelling suffered a nasty cut around his eye after an accidental collision in the first minute.

‘There was blood gushing everywhere,’ reported boss Glenn Turnbull. ‘He’s been told no sport for two or three weeks.’

Another centre half, Tom Cain, is nursing a hip injury, striker Jay Ripiner suffered a shoulder injury at Cowes last Friday, and midfielder Brodie Spencer is 50/50 for Saturday’s trip to Laverstock & Ford after picking up an injury in Saturday’s reserve friendly against Harvest Home.

Midfielder Harry Bedford is several weeks away from returning after being injured in the very first pre-season training session.

‘That’s why we’ve got a squad with competition in all areas,’ said the boss. ‘It’s bearing fruit already.’

Harry Birmingham could return as one of the three centre halves after recovering from a head injury sustained in a friendly against Baffins that required hospital treatment.

John Cass could also be available as he seems to have escaped a suspension following a red card at Cowes.

Turnbull declared himself ‘really pleased’ with Tuesday’s win against a Littehampton side who won 20 out of their 22 Southern Combination Division 1 matches in 2019/20 - drawing the other two.

US had previously beaten higher division Baffins, Horndean and Cowes in friendlies and, like Littlehampton, were top of their league when life went into lockdown in March to deny them almost certain promotion.

After that heartache, Turnbull knows the next eight months will be tough. ‘There’s so many strong teams this season,’ he said.

‘I was speaking to the Alton manager at Baffins on Wednesday and he said there’s 10 clubs who could go up.

‘We’ve had a good pre-season, but so have lots of others.’