Portsmouth boss confirms worst fears over injury picked up by former Crystal Palace youngster Franco Umeh
Pompey’s Franco Umeh injury fears have been realised
John Mousinho has provided an update on the hamstring injury suffered by Franco Umeh during the Blues’ FA Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
And it appears his fears over the extent of the problem suffered was justified.
The former Crystal Palace youngster tore his hamstring in the dying moments of the 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Gunners, following his first-half appearance as a substitute for the also-injured Harvey Blair.
That runout against Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders was just his second appearance for the club, with a similar issue denying the 20-year-old any match action during the first four months of his Fratton Park stay.
It also provided Pompey with an attacking boost given the current injuries that have kept both Josh Murphy and Callum Lang out of the team in recent weeks - plus former loanee Minhyeok Yang’s departure during the January transfer window.
Umeh showed enough in the 51 minutes he was on the pitch against Arsenal why the Blues brought him to the south coast during the summer.
So to finally get confirmation that his season is over comes as a huge blow for both the player and the club, as they continue to scrap for their Championship lives at the wrong end of the table.
John Mousinho confirms Franco Umeh injury fears
Speaking to The News ahead of his side’s trip to Watford on Wednesday - a game Marlon Pack will also miss because of a hamstring injury - Mousinho said the highly-rated Irishman went under the knife on Sunday to rectify the problem and will be out of action for 3-4 months.
‘Franco is out for the season,’ confirmed Mousinho.
‘He’s had surgery on his hamstring. He had that yesterday (Sunday).
‘Franco should be back for pre-season (though).
‘It’s one of those that will be 3-2 months for him.’
Pompey’s need to additional attacking options
Umeh’s injury increases the need for Pompey to dip their toes in the transfer market and recruit a wide man for the second half of the season.
The Blues have already recruited Millenic Alli from Luton on loan for the remainder of the campaign. But with Lang, Murphy and Blair all currently unavailable and Pompey in need of wide attacking reinforcements before their latest injury blow, there’s still work to be done in this department over the remainings two weeks of the transfer window.
FC Zurich winger Jahnoah Markelo has been linked with a move to Fratton Park this month and didn’t feature on FCZ’s 1-1 draw with Servette on Sunday. However, it remains to be seen whether the Blues will follow up their initial interest in the 23-year-old, who has two goals and three assists from the 14 league games he’s played this season.
For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth boss allays fears over John Murphy after winger spotted in protective boot