The incredible extent of Josh Murphy’s injury pain revealed as Portsmouth’s star man faces fitness fightback
Pompey’s star man was playing in the Championship with a fractured foot and receiving multiple injections to help his team’s cause.
John Mousinho admitted Pompey will need to be ‘patient’ with Josh Murphy as his vast injury pain was detailed.
The Blues’ star man has been fighting FOUR different fitness issues, as he played through the pain for his side’s Championship cause.
Murphy been dealing with 4 different injury issue including fracture
Mousinho detailed how Murphy was receiving two injections per game at the end of last year, to allow the reigning player of the season to feature for the Blues.
The 30-year-old picked a fractured metatarsal against Swansea in December, but played on with the issue against Blackburn Rovers and Derby County before suffering a hamstring setback at Pride Park.
Murphy has also been dealing with hip and ankle issues in a tale of injury woe, as he bravely put his body on the line for his team.
It’s the metatarsal which now appears to be the major areas of focus, with the Oxford United still in a protective shoe.
Mousinho said: That’s the one we’re waiting to heal.
‘It’s not as bad as it looks, it’s one of those he had previously and was playing on with the injections he was receiving.
‘When we played against Blackburn it was exactly the same. So for context on the severity of that injury, it’s not great but it was one he was playing on. He did it for Blackburn and did it again for Derby.
Mousinho on Murphy: We can’t force him back
‘It wasn’t that which kept him out, it was the hamstring injury.
‘He was also having another injection with his hip. The hip settled down and the hamstring has now settled down, but we think it’s wise at the moment to get everything settled down and sorted, so he’s healed across the board.
‘So that’s the delay.
‘There was the previous ankle injury as well, which has settled down.
‘So when we talk about the bad luck Josh has had, given he stayed fit for the entirety of last season, he’s juggling a few things.
‘That’s why we’ve been patient with him, because we can’t force him back.
‘We’re so heavily reliant on him, but we didn’t have to ask him (to play) Murph just wanted to do it, having those two injections per game.’
With Millenic Alli, Gustavo Caballero and Keshi Anderson all arriving to bolster options out wide, Murphy now has time to get the injuries right.
That points to a period on the sidelines likely to stretch into March, with the aim clearly to get one of the Championship’s outstanding attacking talents firing on all cylinders for the last stretch of the season.
Mousinho added: ‘We’ve now had a couple of players come in and play very well, so we think it’s wise that Murph looks after his health. He’s desperate to get back, hopefully it heals quickly and it’s okay.’