'Plenty of options': Bullish Portsmouth boss draws up contingency plans after devastating injury blow
The Blues’ longest-serving player signed a new two-year deal this summer
John Mousinho is convinced Pompey possess sufficient options to cope with the devastating absence of Connor Ogilvie.
Yet he has reiterated the need to recruit another left-back - while there will be no reprieve for Jacob Farrell.
The Blues have suffered a huge blow after it emerged Ogilvie yesterday underwent an operation to address an ongoing knee injury.
The issue will see him miss the start of the 2026-27 season, joining Zak Swanson, Josef Bursik and Mark Kosznovszky on the sidelines.
However, an optimistic Mousinho has pinpointed Farrell, Swanson, Ibane Bowat and Jordan Williams as left-back alternatives for the opener against West Ham in the Carabao Cup on August 8.
‘We’ve got plenty of other options’
He told The News: ‘It’s a blow, but we have to dust ourselves off. We know we have other options at left-back, as we did last year with the players that came in and did brilliantly well.
‘Connor is a valued member of the side, obviously he got his new contract in the summer, which was fully deserved, and we wanted to keep him at the football club.
‘We’ve got to make sure we deal with this, this will not be the first injury we have all year, and we have other options in Jordan Williams, Jacob Farrell, Zak Swanson and Ibane Bowat.
‘We’ve got plenty of options, as we had last season when all of those had playing time at left-back. Probably Willo and Zak had a bit more significant playing time, but they’ve all played there.
‘We are looking at where we are at the moment in terms of what we might want to do at left-back with one recognised left-back - who is now out - and also Zak who has played there.
‘So it’s probably worth strengthening there.’
Doubts over futures of alternative left-backs
Of the four left-back alternatives put forward by the head coach, Swanson is continuing his rehabilitation following knee surgery in April and has still to return to full training.
In the case of Bowat, Mousinho last week admitted they were open to offers for the left-footed defender as they seek to create space in their playing squad.
Similarly, Farrell, who is recovering from a groin problem, is also earmarked for a Fratton Park exit this summer following an injury-ravaged two years on the south coast.
While there remains uncertainty over Williams’ ongoing Pompey future, having struggled for matches last season, until being handed a late flurry of appearances due to injury to team-mates.
‘We’d still be looking to get Jacob a move if we possibly can’
Mousinho added: ‘Connor’s injury probably doesn’t impact what we want to do with Jacob because we have the other three who can fill in there.
‘So we’d still be looking to get Jacob a move if we possibly can. First and foremost, it’s about getting him fit and then going from there.
‘We’ll see how it goes with Ibs (Bowat). He’s with us for the week and will most likely play with us next week for the Woking and Aldershot games. If a move comes up for him in the meantime, then we’ll look at it.’
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