‘Available for Norwich City’: Portsmouth handed big attacking fitness boost ahead of critical Championship clash
The Birmingham City signing is ready to return at a huge moment, with Norwich City and Oxford United to come over Easter.
Keshi Anderson has provided Pompey with a much-needed attacking pick-me-up for Norwich City.
The Blues’ new winger has been cleared for a return to action at Carrow Road on Good Friday, following a two month hamstring injury lay-off.
Pompey boss Mousinho: ‘Keshi’s available for Friday’
John Mousinho welcomed the extra degree of flexibility in wide areas, after relying heavily on fellow new boy Millenic Alli since his January arrival.
It’s been a stalled start to life at PO4 for Anderson, as he linked up with Pompey when his contract with Championship rivals Birmingham City was cancelled.
The 30-year-old made two appearances off the bench against Southampton and West Brom, where he showcased flashes of quality.
Now Anderson returns to the fold at a time when Pompey are hunting for attacking inspiration.
Mousinho said: ‘Keshi’s available for Friday.
‘Whenever Keshi’s available for us he’s looked really sharp, not having that option has been part of the problem over the past few weeks.
‘Segs (Segecic) has done a brilliant job when he’s been out there, but I don’t really see him as an out-and-out winger.
‘We’ve had that heavy reliance on Milli to do that job off the left. Sometimes he’s been brilliant, but sometimes when we’ve not been able to change him out and give him a rest that’s perhaps taken its toll on him.
‘So just having that option, like we did in that run of games when Keshi came in will be useful.
‘Keshi played against Southampton, he played against West Brom and was due for a start against Ipswich before that got postponed. He then unfortunately picked up his injury.
‘So I think you can see the strength of the squad and the options we had over those games was a lot different.’
Pompey are without key man Josh Murphy for the rest of the term, with the reigning player of the season’s campaign curtailed by a fractured metatarsal.
Pompey boss welcomes much-needed attacking option
It’s a similar story for Franco Umeh, with the £500,000 signing from Crystal Palace seeing his time at PO4 wrecked by hamstring issues.
Swansea loanee Florian Bianchini hasn’t been seen since November with the Frenchman dealing with a tendonitis problem, while Harvey Blair has endured hamstring and groin concerns.
Mousinho welcomed the chance to be able to switch up his options out wide thanks to Anderson’s return.
He added: ‘With the output we’re asking for from the wingers we’d like to change them over.
‘It depends what kind of day the winger’s having, but definitely having that option is useful.’