Portsmouth boss John Mousinho provides key injury update over Josh Murphy - as Blues handed double fitness boost ahead of QPR

John Mousinho has admitted Josh Murphy is rated 50/50 for Pompey's Boxing Day contest against QPR.

And the Blues boss has issued a clean bill of health over Zak Swanson and Ibane Bowat after the defensive duo missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Derby County.

Murphy was withdrawn just six minutes into the second half of the stalemate at Pride Park after going down off the ball following a delivery into the box.

Mousinho revealed after the game that the popular 30-year-old felt his hamstring and was substituted as a precaution, with Harvey Blair coming on to see how the contest.

The Blues have a quick turnaround with the festive fixtures piling up as QPR make the trip to Fratton Park on Boxing Day before Charlton Athletic visit the south coast to round off 2025.

John Mousinho provides injury update over Josh Murphy

Speaking ahead of Friday’s fixture against the Hoops, the head coach has rated Murphy as 50/50 for the fixture, who faces a late fitness call to determine his availability.

Mousinho said: Murph is 50/50 for the weekend. Murph, we'll take a view on tomorrow (Christmas Eve).

‘He’s actually presented absolutely fine after the game, just felt a bit of tightness in his hamstring. So he’s not feeling that at the moment.

We’ve just had a bit of precaution over the past couple of days with training. We’ll see how he’s doing.’

Murphy has been influential for Pompey this term - and an ever-present in Mousinho’s front line - and registered his sixth assist of the campaign against Derby County last Saturday.

The forward had posted a cryptic injury message on his social media on Monday, suggesting he could be fit to feature at Fratton despite his scare.

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Pompey handed injury boost over duo for QPR

While the Blues face a late call on the ex-Cardiff City and Norwich City man, Swanson and Bowat are both set to return on Friday.

The versatile full-back, who has been appearing at left-back in Connor Ogilvie’s absence in recent weeks, made the trip to Pride Park but pulled out prior to kick-off due to illness.

Meanwhile, Bowat was ruled out of the stalemate after rolling his ankle in training last week. Mousinho has offered a clean bill of health over the defensive duo, who have returned to training and are in contention to fcae QPR on Boxing Day.

The Blues boss added: ‘He’s (Bowat) fine, he’s back in all training.’ Zak’s trained the last two days as well so he’s fine.

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