The huge landmark which shows why Portsmouth favourite is confident his injury problems are finally over
The attacker’s last full match was previously in February at Sheffield United
Arguably the loudest Fratton roar of the season greeted Callum Lang’s equaliser, yet there was another huge reason to cheer at the final whistle.
For Saturday marked the popular attacker’s first 90 minutes in more than 10 months - another pivotal landmark during an injury-ravaged 2025.
Not since a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United at the start of February had Lang lasted the full duration of a Pompey game. Indeed, he has featured just 11 times since then, with a recurring injury to his left hamstring sidelining him for three lengthy periods.
Having previously rejected the opportunity to undergo surgery on his problematic hamstring, the former Wigan man finally relented in August after his latest set-back just two matches into the Championship season.
Encouragingly, in last weekend’s 2-1 triumph over Blackburn, it was double joy for Lang on a personal level, having scored and completed 90 minutes as John Mousinho’s men collected a timely win.
And the 27-year-old is hopeful his injury issues are now well behind him.
‘The operation was my choice’
Lang told The News: ‘I still don’t think I was at my best against Blackburn, fitness-wise sometimes it just takes a few games to get there.
‘But the first 90 minutes back is a big one ticked off - and to tick it off with a goal is really good for confidence. Hopefully we can now push on as a side.
‘I’ve got to be confident with it, in the gym I feel strong. The reason I had surgery was to eliminate a lot more risk, now I have to keep working in the gym with the physios every day to make sure I’m in a good place.
‘I feel a lot more comfortable with it now. The operation was my choice, to be honest. I didn’t think about it at all last season because I wanted to get back and help the team.
‘Obviously the position we were in - under quite a bit of pressure - I wanted to return as soon as possible. Looking back at that, it was probably a risk.
‘This season, as soon as I did it again, I kind of knew I should get the surgery. It was a longer recovery, but I trust that the job has been done well.
‘It’s frustrating, but I’m confident it’s solid now and I can hopefully keep knocking out more 90 minutes.’
20 Pompey appearances in 2025
Lang’s hamstring issues have restricted him to just 20 appearances across the calendar year in 2025.
Initially occurring in the second half of a 2-0 win at Oxford United in February, he was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Upon his pre-season comeback, the attacker felt his hamstring once more, ruling him out of full training for the whole Slovakia training camp, while also missing out on friendlies against Woking, Farnborough and Crawley.
Then, after starting Pompey’s opening two Championship matches, Lang suffered a recurrence, this time opting for an operation which kept him out for three months until returning in November against Millwall.
‘I can’t really change my game’
He added: ‘I can’t really change my game. The reason why I’m playing for this club and have done so well here is I’ve been aggressive and want to give everything for the team. I can never change that.
‘Fingers crossed it’s all good now and I'm comfortable with it.’
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