Portsmouth boss on why £1m signing's 'unspectacular' performance against Norwich was perfect
The summer signing from Sweden has featured just 13 times for the Blues
John Mousinho admits Luke Le Roux was ‘unspectacular’ against Norwich - and he wouldn’t want it any other way.
For Friday’s trip to Norwich, the South African international was surprisingly handed a first league start since the New Year’s Day 5-0 hammering at Bristol City.
Since then, he had totalled just 12 minutes of Championship action, despite being a fixture on the substitutes' bench for the Blues.
However, after replacing John Swift to play alongside Marlon Pack in the centre of midfield for the visit to Carrow Road, Le Roux played a key role in the 1-1 draw.
And Mousinho has sung the praises of the £1m man who has struggled to make a Fratton Park impact since his July 2025 arrival from Swedish side Varnamo.
‘He gave us a bit more defensive solidity’
Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘I thought Luke was excellent, that's why we kept him on for the 90 minutes after bringing him back into the team.
‘It was his first league game he’d started since Bristol City - and I was really pleased with his performance. He gave us a bit more defensive solidity.
‘Losing Ebou, we thought Luke was an option for us, we’re a bit short in the middle of the park at the minute. Doz isn’t ready to start yet, we had lost Ebou, and he gives a little more away from home.
‘He was very tidy, won his challenges well and played forward when he could. There have been games when we have taken Luke out of the side previously when he didn’t look quite as comfortable as he did on Friday.
‘Maybe in those games he gave the ball away a couple of times, but at Norwich I thought he looked sharp, he looked tidy, he did his defensive job really well.
‘I would say it was unspectacular, but that’s what we want from Luke, we don’t need any foul-ups - and he did that very well on Friday.’
Partnered Marlon Pack in midfield
WIth Pack booked in the fifth minute for a foul on Kenny McLean and subsequently handed his final warning by referee Stephen Martin shortly afterwards, the skipper was walking a disciplinary tightrope.
It meant extra pressure on Le Roux to impose himself physically in the centre of the midfield against the Canaries, who have rallied impressively under Philippe Clemente since his November appointment.
Ultimately, it was the arrival of Dozzell off the bench for Pack in the 65th minute which would open the door for the Blues’ late equaliser.
His right-sided free-kick was met with a Colby Bishop header, before being diverted past his own keeper by Pelle Mattsson in the 84th minute as the game finished 1-1.
However, Le Roux, with just 13 appearances since his summer arrival, has put himself firmly in contention to keep his place in the Bank Holiday Monday clash with fellow strugglers Oxford United.
Mousinho added: ‘We’ve got Marlon, Doz and Swifty as well who are able to play in there against Oxford.
‘So that’s a bit better than the prospect was when Ebou was out and we weren’t sure about Doz either.’