'A bit risky': Portsmouth boss makes Marlon Pack injury admission after Southampton comeback
The Blues’ club captain came off the bench in the south-coast derby to help secure a point
John Mousinho concedes it was ‘a bit risky’ to hand Marlon Pack his injury comeback in the south-coast derby.
Yet the head coach is adamant the club captain’s presence was pivotal in Pompey’s fightback to claim a point in the 1-1 Fratton Park draw.
Having been sidelined for three of the Blues’ last four matches with a recurring hamstring problem, Pack was named on the bench against Southampton.
The 34-year-old was subsequently granted his opportunity in the 71st minute, when introduced for Andre Dozzell in the centre of midfield.
Indeed, Pack was in the thick of the action inside the visitors’ penalty area when Ebou Adams bundled home the leveller just six minutes later, sparking a memorable celebration.
And Mousinho is convinced it was the perfect stage for the Buckland lad to return.
‘He was not quite ready, but we pushed that one through’
He told The News: ‘Marlon was great. We were desperate to get him back in, it was probably a bit risky, not quite ready to play again, but we pushed that one through.
‘We are being very short-term at the moment with things like that and things like Regan. I thought he came on and did well, he’s such a special part of this football club.
‘I think Marlon had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He missed the first derby at St Mary’s with an injury he had picked up and was gutted back then. He was trying to force himself back for that one, but didn’t quite make it.
‘Sunday wasn’t solely to get Marlon on for the sake of it, it’s because he’s a very good player - and we saw that again.
‘But he’ll be fine now after the injury. Getting through this game was the risk.’
Missed four of the last nine games with injury
Pack’s Pompey outings have been sporadic since the start of December, with niggling injuries restricting him to just one start.
The veteran has missed four of the Blues’ last nine fixtures, although was available and came off the bench for the tantalising visits of Arsenal and Southampton this month.
He was also absent for the opening five matches of the campaign with a knee injury which required surgery, with his return to action arriving at St Mary’s in September.
On that occasion, he was an unused substitute, depriving the Pompey fan of the opportunity to compete in his first south-coast derby as the sides shared a goalless draw.
However, the special moment did arrive on Sunday, having been named among the substitutes after being sidelined by a hamstring injury for the previous two fixtures at Sheffield Wednesday and Watford.
‘Marlon as a captain gives you that extra edge’
And Mousinho had absolutely no qualms in introducing the influential midfielder off the bench with 19 minutes remaining.
He added: ‘He gives you calmness and control, plus that real physicality, although I thought Doz (Dozzell) was really good as well.
‘Everyone played well, but Marlon as a captain gives you that extra edge in terms of his leadership.
‘The only disappointing thing about his performance is he didn’t slot that chance away and it went out for a throw!’