Forgotten man hands Portsmouth injury boost ahead of Cambridge United trip - plus update on former Cardiff winger ahead of Abbey Stadium game

A forgotten man amid the table-topping Blues’ unbeaten start to the season, the midfielder hasn’t featured for John Mousinho since the opening day of the 2023-24 campaign.

A knee injury picked up in the first half of that game against Bristol Rovers has frustratingly restricted the 25-year-old to just 45 minutes of football to date this term.

The former Crewe man has been steadily building his way back to fitness, with Mousinho regularly providing updates on his progress.

Now there’s light at the end of the tunnel, with Lowery back undergoing modified training and expected to be back with the group for full contact training ahead of Pompey’s FA Cup trip to Chesterfield on Sunday, November 5.

However, providing an update on all his walking wounded – as well as Gavin Whyte, who missed Saturday’s 1-0 win against Carlisle because of illness – Mousinho warned Lowery would not be rushed back into action.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Cambridge United, the Blues head coach said: ‘Everything is as normal from the weekend. Hopefully we’ll have Gavin Whyte back from illness.

‘The long-term injuries are coming along nicely. Marlon (Pack) has been back out on the grass and Tom’s out on the grass. Anthony (Scully) isn’t quite there yet, but he’s coming along really well in the gym, so yeah, really, really good progress on that.

‘In fact, Tom joined in for modified training on Saturday morning, or he joined in in a modified way for the training session Saturday morning, so I think he’ll have a week of dropping in and out of training sessions and then he’ll be back training with us the week building in to the FA Cup game, which will be great.

‘He’ll be nowhere near ready for any game, probably until way after the international break if we do get it, but it’s really, really good to have him back.

‘All of the short-term issues is as normal and we’ll have a fully fit squad as per Saturday for tomorrow.

‘There’s no problems in terms of (fresh) injuries.’

Lowery has made just 22 appearances for Pompey since his free transfer move from Crewe in the summer of 2022.

Injuries have prevented him from adding to that figure. However, upon his return, the strength in depth of the Blues squad could be his next hurdle.

Pompey are well stocked in midfield with Pack, Joe Morrell, Alex Robertson, Terry Devlin, Ben Stevenson and Tino Anjorin all battling for selection in that area of the pitch.