Yet another set-back for luckless Portsmouth man - before he's even kicked a ball
The left-back joined the Blues in July 2024, yet has featured just three times for John Mousinho’s side
Luckless Jacob Farrell has suffered yet another injury set-back - before even kicking a ball for his new club.
The Pompey left-back last month moved back to the A-League with Sydney FC, relishing the opportunity of regular first-team football.
It’s a season-long loan which the Blues are banking on putting the 23-year-old in the shop window, following an injury-ravaged time at Fratton Park which has restricted him to just three appearances.
Worryingly, it appears to be a recurrence of the same injury which has now dogged the defender for more than a year.
Ruled of of A-league curtain-raiser
Having initially suffered it at Pompey at the start of 2025-26, he later aggravated the issue during a loan spell at Western Sydney Warriors in April 2026, forcing him to miss the Blues’ pre-season.
Now, a matter of weeks into his fresh start at the Allianz Stadium, Farrell has been sidelined once more.
The latest blow ruled him out of a potential debut in the Sydney derby, with the A-League curtain-raiser finishing goalless in front of a crowd of 30,103.
Farrell, who has been handed the number five shirt by the Sky Blues, has high hopes for a fresh start after a dreadful time with Pompey since his July 2024 arrival.
Indeed, after signing for Sydney FC on loan last month, he was confident the injury problems were now over - and focusing on his future.
‘The injuries just kept coming and then trying to get back into the squad was hard, it’s very competitive over there.
‘I think I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym the last two years, not that I wanted to but because of injuries and other things, so that’s definitely helped me, and I think it’s a positive within the bad time at Portsmouth due to injuries.
‘I’ve got my body in a good position to move on now.’
Farrell’s Pompey contract expires in the summer of 2028, yet the Blues have made it clear he has no future there.
Presently Brentford loanee Jayden Meghoma is impressing at left-back, while Connor Ogilvie is nearing his return from injury and Zak Swanson can also operate there.
‘His future will lie away from the football club’
Speaking to The News earlier this month, sporting director Rich Hughes said: ‘He’s (Farrell) had a tough run here with injuries, he’s a very nice young man and we wish him all the best.
‘However, given the fact he’s been here for a couple of years and not been able to sustain that level of availability, he probably finds himself in a scenario where his future will lie away from the football club.
‘The loan is very much the intention for Jacob to play and put himself in a great spot physically, while also having that awareness that people know he’s fit and durable.
‘Then hopefully that can give him an opportunity to go and showcase his talents.’