Portsmouth boss’ rookie Championship duo message as fears grow over Regan Poole injury
Pompey are waiting to hear the extent of Regan Poole’s injury, with the defender out of Saturday’s clash with Blackburn Rovers. John Mousinho assesses Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat’s continued involvement in his absence, with Josh Knight also sidelined.
Pompey’s new-look defensive pairing have taken steps towards answering questions over their Championship credentials.
That’s the assessment of Blues boss John Mousinho, as he waits to hear the extent of Regan Poole’s ankle injury which kept him out at Swansea City.
Mousinho on Bowat and Matthews: ‘About doing that consistently now’
Poole’s ever-present league run came to an end on Tuesday night as he missed out against the Swans, with Josh Knight also sidelined with a back issue.
Ibane Bowat and Hayden Matthews instead deputised in a new-look pairing, though both players were also used in Saturday’s abandoned clash at Charlton Athletic.
Bowat and Matthews’ form has fluctuated this term, with both men having tough moments in their Carabao Cup and Championship outings to date.
Mousinho was broadly pleased with their contributions at the Swansea.com Stadium, however, with the Pompey boss seeing greater issues in attacking areas.
The Blues are now waiting to see the extent of Poole’s injury, but it’s been confirmed the Wales international will miss Saturday’s clash with Blackburn. That’s a blow, but Mousinho feels Bowat and Matthews have now removed some of the doubts hanging over them.
He said: ‘Regan’s injury is a blow. It’s the same as any player really, but Regan had played every minute of every game before the Charlton game, so it will be tough to lose him for any period of time.
‘Ultimately that’s why we have the squad. We’ve got three centre-halves out injured at the moment, so Hayden and Ibane have come in and performed well.
‘We want to have as many players available as possible, it’s much easier for me then, but definitely (the performances of Matthews and Bowat at Swansea gave confidence).
‘It was a big question over the two of them, whether they would be able to perform together and whether they’d be able to show the attributes we’ve seen in training and in glimpses in games.
‘It was whether they could put that on to the football pitch, and they’ve done that for one night. It’s about doing that consistently for them now, that’s the big challenge.’
Mousinho certainly now appears to have greater confidence in Poole and Matthew, though Knight could be back for Saturday’s clash at Fratton Park.
Knight ‘50-50’ for Blackburn Rovers
Meanwhile, the Pompey boss is hopeful Zak Swanson will be able to continue after being forced off after the restart in south Wales with a back concern.
Conor Shaughnessy (hamstring), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Thomas Waddingham (quad) and Jacob Farrell (groin) remain sidelined.
Updating on Pompey’s injuries, Mousinho said: ‘I don’t know about Zak yet, but it didn’t look too bad.
‘Josh is 50-50 for this weekend, it’s touch and go, day to day. Regan won’t make the weekend, but we haven’t got a timescale on that yet.’