‘Simple as’: John Mousinho delivers no-nonsense Portsmouth demand amid ongoing injury crisis
Pompey have as many as nine players sidelined for Saturday’s trip to Norwich City.
John Mousinho has demanded his Pompey troops ‘have to be ready’ to play three games a week as their Championship schedule ramps up.
And the head coach has conceded he could be once against forced to name two goalkeepers on his bench for Saturday’s trip to Norwich City amid their ongoing injury crisis.
The Blues are back in action this weekend, with a trip to Carrow Road to face Philippe Clement’s early strugglers.
Mousinho, however, could be without as many as nine players for the Championship showdown as injuries continue to deplete his options.
Tyrese Shade was a surprise absentee against the Blades, with the head coach explaining the £2m capture failed a late fitness test, which required goalkeepers Ben Killip and Daniel Bielica to be named on the bench.
That’s because Josh Murphy, John Swift, Conor Shaughnessy, Franco Umeh, Thomas Waddingham, Connor Ogilvie, Benjy Arthur and Luke Brooke-Smith are all presently out, with only Shade expected to return for Saturday.
Pompey injury crisis ahead of Norwich City
The Blues, of course, are in the midst of a demanding schedule, which will see them in action five times in 13 days.
And although Pompey are currently facing an early-season injury crisis, Mousinho has made it clear his troops have to be able to cope with the grueling run of fixtures.
Speaking to The News, the head coach said: ‘There is always that temptation. We don’t have to make them, it just depends on how the lads report back tomorrow (Friday).
‘Everyone is going to be a bit sore (after Sheffield United), we’ve got that quick turnaround and Norwich as well. They’ve got the exact same - albeit they’ve got a couple of home games.
‘So we’ll see. We’ll see how that is and how the boys report but the lads have got to be ready to play three games in a week. It’s as simple as that.’
Pompey could be forced for to name keepers again for Norwich
The deadline-day capture was initially named on the bench before an amendment saw 21st-man Killip come into the squad.
Although Shade is expected to return to Mousinho’s ranks against Norwich, Anderson’s injury setback will see him drop out in what will be a straight swap in the squad.
This could force the head coach to name two goalkeepers once again in his squad as injuries take hold of his options.
When asked if that could be the case against Norwich, the head coach said: ‘There could be. I’ll see how that is tomorrow.’
The Canaries also have injury scares of their own, with Moahmed Toure, Kenny McLean, Mirko Topic and Papa Amadou Diallo all sidelined.
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