'An absolute animal!': Portsmouth boss' update on Callum Lang's Fratton future amid Preston North End interest
The popular attacker has scored twice in eight matches during an injury-ravaged season
John Mousinho insists he has not been informed of any potential Fratton Park departure for Callum Lang.
And the head coach is adamant the Preston target remains ‘absolutely happy’ on the south coast as the attacker pushes for an injury return against Ipswich (February 3).
The Lilywhites have reignited their interest in the 27-year-old during the January transfer window, having made an unsuccessful approach in the summer.
It has been an immensely frustrating season for Lang, who has been restricted to just eight appearances following recurring hamstring issues, although he is now back in full training.
Regardless, Mousinho is adamant he doesn’t want last season’s second leading scorer to leave the Blues this window, particularly with a Championship relegation battle to negotiate.
And he believes Lang isn’t showing any signs in training of wanting away from Pompey.
‘He’s training like an absolute animal at the moment’
Mousinho told The News: ‘Callum has been in full training this week. Is there anything in Preston? Not from my perspective.
‘I’ve had nothing to do with it. As far as I’m aware, he is ready and available for selection - maybe not for Saturday, but for Tuesday (Ipswich). If there is anything serious, the club I am sure will speak to me about it.
‘I think he’s happy, he seems very happy, but that is Callum for you. You can be happy at a club and want a move or do something else, that’s absolutely fine, I’m not saying Callum wants to leave at all. I haven’t even spoken to Callum about it.
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‘He is absolutely happy. If there is any chance of a move, he is training like an absolute animal at the moment, so he’s not taking the brakes off or anything, he’s right at it!
‘He wants to play and I'm pretty sure he would have been ready to play if I had called upon him on Sunday (against Southampton), but he’d only had one training session.’
Sidelined for Pompey’s last six games
Lang has missed Pompey’s last six matches with yet another hamstring injury, which was felt after the Boxing Day clash with QPR.
That occurred just six matches into another comeback, having undergone an operation on his other hamstring, which had sidelined the ex-Wigan man for two-and-a-half months.
Since then, the Blues have bolstered their attacking options with the signings of Millenic Alli and Keshi Anderson, while Minhyeok Yang was recalled by Spurs.
According to Mousinho, Saturday’s visit of West Brom will be too soon for Lang to return, with Josh Murphy also still absent with the hamstring injury sustained at Derby in December.
‘Cal’s amazing to work with’
Although Tuesday night’s visit of Ipswich looks a far more realistic comeback date for the long-running Preston target.
Mousinho added: ‘Cal is amazing to work with and that’s one of the reasons he’s done so well.
‘It’s nothing to do with me, but my answer would be I want Callum to be a Pompey player. You will have to ask someone else on that.’