How Portsmouth can solve their 25-man squad headache - the eight big decisions
The Blues presently have two vacancies in their 25-man Football League squad
With Pompey required to offload players in the January transfer window, it has been the unlikely source of Spurs to provide a helping hand.
Some may be frustrated by the loss of a winger of Minhyeok Yang’s ability, yet with the Premier League recalling the South Korean international and instead sending him to Coventry, it creates another space in the Blues’ 25-man squad.
As it stands, there now remain two slots available in the list, which must be submitted to the Football League list in February, once the window closes.
Considering John Mousinho has repeatedly declared a wish for up to six new faces, others also need to be removed.
And here are the options facing sporting director Rich Hughes and Co…
Jacob Farrell
New Year’s Day marked the return of the Australian to Pompey’s match-day squad for the first time in almost five months, with injury primarily behind his long absence.
A groin problem has dogged Farrell this season and, coupled with his knee injury last term, the 23-year-old has featured just twice since arriving from Central Coast Mariners in July 2024.
With Pompey wanting another left-back to cover or compete with Connor Ogilvie when he returns to fitness, they could well opt to now stick with Farrell.
Alternatively, they could loan him out for the second half of the season to get games - or even deregister him, thereby allowing more time to build up his fitness and ensure he’s absolutely ready to return.
Doing so would then create another space in the squad.
Luke Le Roux
The midfielder has struggled for matches since joining Pompey. As a consequence, he has lost his place with South Africa, having been omitted from the Africa Cup of Nations squad.
With the Bafana Bafana having also qualified for this summer’s World Cup finals, Le Roux needs regular football to break back into their international plans.
Considering Pompey are seeking to strengthen their midfield area, the likelihood is the 25-year-old will find it even more difficult to get vital match minutes at Fratton Park.
The solution could be finding another club - either on loan or permanently. Remaining with Pompey and being deregistered certainly isn’t an option, however, with games essential to his World Cup dream.
Under-21 players
When submitting the 25-man squad list to the Football League, players born on or after January 1, 2004 are classed as under-21 players, thereby aren’t counted.
This applies to Reuben Swann, Thomas Waddingham, Hayden Matthews, Adrian Segecic, Harry Clout, Makenzie Kirk and Franco Umeh. Plus Academy players such as Tayo Singerr and Ashton Sizer.
Therefore, loaning out Makenzie Kirk, for example, would not create another space in the list for the Blues to utilise.
Likewise, while Thomas Waddingham is targeted for a February return following another injury, he’s not taking up a slot anyway, so isn’t actually impacting the 25-man list.
Mark Kosznovszky
Following the New Year’s Day defeat at Bristol City, Mousinho was asked about the Hungarian’s knee injury, telling BBC Radio Solent: ‘I don’t know. We fear the worst with Mark, but we haven’t had a scan on it yet. We’re going to scan him tomorrow and go from there.’
When it was put to him whether the problem was season-ending, he added: ‘Yeah, it doesn’t look great.’
Mousinho is next scheduled to speak to the media on Thursday ahead of the FA Cup clash with Arsenal, so there will be an update.
Should Kosznovszky be ruled out of the season, as feared, he would effectively be deregistered and a spot is created.
Goalkeepers
Pompey’s preference is to have three goalkeepers registered, which is entirely understandable.
They actually have four on their books at present, with Jordan Archer still contracted but surplus to requirements, having not been included in the last 25-man squad list.
There is also Toby Steward, who is earning rave reviews at St Johnstone during a season-long loan which has a recall clause this month.
With Steward classed as an under-21 player, there’s the argument he could be called back and replace either Josef Bursik or Ben Killip in the squad, thereby creating a space.
Yet that would undoubtedly be unfair on Steward, with Pompey extremely pleased with his development in the Scottish Championship, while harsh on the existing goalkeeping core.
Definitely a nuclear option!
Florian Bianchini
The Swansea loanee has been absent from Pompey’s last five matches with a knee injury, according to Mousinho.
It’s fair to say his stay has so far been hugely disappointing. However, it is believed there’s no clause on Pompey’s side to end his season-long stay early.
Whether the Swans would be prepared to recall the Frenchman also remains doubtful, particularly considering the Blues represent relegation rivals.
Although last January, Middlesbrough did recall Sammy Silvera early after recognising his Fratton Park struggles, before loaning him to League One Blackpool.
Perhaps Pompey can point to injury concerns over Bianchini - or even threaten not to register him - to put pressure on Swansea to recall him?
Centre-halves
Mousinho had previously said he would assess the availability of his five centre-halves on January 1 before deciding whether to add to the position in January.
When that date arrived, Josh Knight and Hayden Matthews were injured, albeit Knight is expected to return in a few weeks.
With five fit and available centre-halves, the Blues could loan out one to create a squad space, although, considering ongoing injury issues with Conor Shaughnessy and Hayden Matthews, that may be a huge risk.
Should they add a sixth central defender in the transfer window, they would definitely need to either loan one out or even not register him.
Carrying six in a 25-man squad, plus having the versatility of Connor Ogilvie, Jordan Williams and Marlon Pack as back-ups, would be far too many.
Conor Chaplin
Ipswich retain a recall option on Chaplin and have yet to rule out activating it should the need arise.
Certainly the Tractor Boys are faring well without him, currently sitting third in the Championship with a game in hand.
For Pompey, it’s clear the attacker has struggled to meet the high standards set in a career which took him to the Premier League last season, but nobody can question his effort and attitude.
Should Ipswich intervene, that would create a spot in Pompey’s 25-man squad.