John Mousinho makes exciting Portsmouth squad admission after £11m summer window
Pompey recruited 12 new players during the summer transfer window
John Mousinho is adamant his Pompey squad is in a ‘good position’ after the close of the transfer window.
And the head coach has called for his fringe players to remain patient as competition for places heats up within his ranks.
It was a hectic summer in the market, with 12 players arriving through the doors at Fratton Park as the Blues boss assembled his new Championship squad.
Pompey splashed the cash, with £11m spent as Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Rocco Shein, Marezi, Daniel Bielica, Luke Brooke-Smith, Abu Kamara, Benjy Arthur, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Iyad Mohamed, Jayden Meghoma and Tyrese Shade all arrived.
Meanwhile, Josh Knight, Hayden Matthews, Jordan Williams, Ibane Bowat and Josef Bursik all departed, while Luke Le Roux’s contract was ripped up after deadline day.
Mousinho now has 28 players in his ranks, with that figure needing to be reduced to fit the confines of the EFL’s 25-man squad permutations.
The injured Mark Kosznovszky and out-of-favour Jacob Farrell are expected to be deregistered, while Harvey Blair’s future was under the spotlight in the window.
And with competition for places hotting up, Mousinho is adamant he now has the strength in depth within his ranks after a tough start to the season
The selection headache now facing Pompey boss after transfer window
When asked why the quartet were left out of the squad, the head coach told BBC Radio Solent: ‘Yeah, no injuries there.
‘It’s a difficult spot for us at the moment because we have the numbers back.
‘We went from a position earlier on in pre-season or earlier on in the season where we didn’t have the numbers necessarily.
‘We were looking to fill the bench here and there so now we’re in a good position with some of the injuries coming back and also the fact that we made two signings on deadline day as well.’
Pompey favourite an example for fringe players
Conor Shaughnessy was used as an example by Mousinho to Blair, Dia, Brooke-Smith and Swift after being left out against Cardiff.
After his 2023 arrival, the Irishman wasn’t included in the match-day squad on the opening day against Bristol Rovers before impressing in a Carabao Cup triumph over Forest Green days later.
The centre-back was then a mainstay for the Blues on their way to the League One title and has remained a key part of the head coach’s plans in the Championship.
And Mousinho has called for his fringe players to remain patient and wait for opportunities as the battle for places continues to heat up.
‘So it’s a case of making sure that players stay at it, stay patient and wait for their opportunities.
‘I always come back to the Conor Shaughnessy one three years ago where things can change very quickly in football.’