'It makes sense': Rich Hughes explains reasons for surprise squad decisions over Portsmouth trio
The Blues’ 25-man Football League squad was today released
Rich Hughes insists it ‘makes sense’ not to include three injured first-team players in Pompey’s 25-man Football League squad list.
And the sporting director is adamant the door remains open for Harvey Blair, Josh Knight and Florian Bianchini to feature for the Blues again this season.
Having lodged their squad list last Thursday, it has emerged the Blues opted to fill 23 of their 25 available slots - thereby leaving two free spaces.
Once again Jordan Archer isn’t included, neither is Mark Kosznovszky, who has been ruled out for the season, and Jacob Farrell, who recently moved on loan to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Intriguingly, however, Pompey also haven’t named injured trio Knight (back), Bianchini (knee) and Blair (hip flexor).
Although Hughes insists that could change, depending on when the trio are available for first-team selection again.
‘We think it makes sense’
He told The News: ‘We think it makes sense, given where we are with bodies returning, to give ourselves that space to make decisions and not be wed to making that decision on February 2.
‘It’s tough, it’s never easy, and the way we’ve put the list together is to leave ourselves some space and give ourselves a position to assess the injuries as things progress forward.
‘So we have the opportunity to add players from those returning from injury. It just gives ourselves space to allow the boys to recover and we can add as and when it becomes available to do so.
‘Harvey is probably the closest to coming back and is currently on grass. As long as it’s 24 hours before a game, he can be registered, so it’s not a drawn-out process. If Harvey is back. he will be added to the list as and when.
‘With Josh, it’s a stress fracture of the back and, because of the nature of a stress fracture injury, he’s had to deload, so he’s completely come off feet. A recent scan has shown a lot of positive signs of repair, so now it’s about building up his resistance and workload again and actually getting him back out on the grass.
‘Getting him moving again, adding a bit to his workload every week, so he is going to be a good few weeks before he is back available for selection. We just need to wait and see how long that process takes as and when to add him to the squad list. He’s not ruled out for the season.
‘Flo has gone to see a specialist in France, it’s slightly more complicated being a Swansea player. They are obviously overseeing some of his medical procedures because he’s contracted to them still, despite the fact he is on loan.
‘We are liaising with them. It has been a bone spur in the knee which has been causing a lot of pain, everyone is trying to figure the best way for Flo to move forward.
‘At the moment, we don’t know when he’ll return, which is why we have left ourselves the space to make the decision.’
Ruled out by injury since the end of November
Knight hasn’t been available since the 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City on November 29, with the summer signing from Hannover 96 subsequently diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back.
Bianchini has struggled to impress after joining on a season-long loan from Swansea and has been absent from their last 12 fixtures with an ongoing knee issue.
While Blair, who has suffered persistent injury since arriving in August 2024, collected a hip flexor injury during last month’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal, sidelining him for the last five matches.
Hughes added: ‘Deciding the list is always a headache because there are a lot of machinations to it, a lot of working out, with Jo Jo (Madiodio Dia) coming in, he is 22 but classed as an under-21 player, which is an added bonus.
‘It’s never easy, but what it does do is serve as a good motivating piece to the players that are out injured to allow them to get back - and knowing there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
‘The door is not closed to any of them.’