Portsmouth boss’ revealing insight into Nico Schmid’s Millwall return to Championship action in big keeper call
Nico Schmid is back and vying to start against Millwall with Josef Bursik, John Mousinho discusses the key man’s potential to feature in the Championship at Fratton Park.
John Mousinho promised he has no qualms about throwing Nico Schmid back into the cut and thrust of Championship action.
And the Pompey boss has detailed the factors which make him confident the Austrian keeper is now ready for a goalkeeping comeback against Millwall this weekend.
Schmid’s ‘come through this week really well’
The key Blues man is set for a return to selection availability against the Londoners on Saturday, after more than two months out with a fractured hand.
Schmid fractured one of the five metacarpal bones in his right hand after a collision with Connor Ogilvie in the south-coast derby, with a Tom Fellows shove on Ogilvie leading to the incident. The recovery has gone well for the 28-year-old, however, being reintroduced to full training over the international break before stepping up his work this week.
Mousinho is confident the problem has been dealt with, as he explained why the recovery process is now completed for the former BW Linz man.
He said: ‘It’s a bit of a strange one, I suppose.
‘When you’ve got a player coming back from a hamstring injury you have to manage them and make sure they’re slowly eased into their training plan.
‘It was binary with Nico in terms of when he came back, because he could either be involved with everything and be ready to catch and parry with his hand - or not.
‘Nico spent a lot of time out on the grass but not handling footballs, then as soon as he was ready he’s been back in.
‘The timing has worked pretty well because he’s had the full international break. Because he’s been training the second we’re able to put him in and someone can blast a ball at him from two yards, he has to be ready to go.
‘He is - he’s come through this week really well.
‘He’s been comfortable with it for a while, so it’s not managing pain but getting his sharpness. He can get that match fitness back, but it’s getting that sharpness and ability to switch on to a game which is intense.’
Bursik v Schmid: Pompey boss faces big Millwall call
Mousinho now faces a big call over whether to throw Schmid straight back in against Millwall, who arrive at Fratton Park in the play-off places after one league defeat in seven.
Josef Bursik has impressively deputised in his absence and been one of the bright spots amid a difficult run of one win in 11 for the Blues.
The deadline day signing from Club Brugge has been favoured over Ben Killip, who replaced Schmid against Southampton and started against Sheffield Wednesday.
Bursik was then used for the ensuing nine appearances, with Jordan Archer the other senior keeper at Fratton Park at presence with Toby Steward impressing on loan in Scotland with St Johnstone.