'We've looked at it': Portsmouth boss addresses transfer stance on signing new right winger
Pompey have used eight different players on the right wing this season
John Mousinho admits Pompey have ‘looked at’ solving their season-long right-sided problem in January.
But the head coach remains unsure whether they will act upon it during a forthcoming transfer window which will be pivotal towards remaining in the Championship.
The Blues have never truly replaced Matt Ritchie this season, with a procession of players employed on the right wing as replacements, with very little success.
Callum Lang, Florian Bianchini, Conor Chaplin, Mark Kosznovszky, Terry Devlin, Josh Murphy, Harvey Blair and Minhyeok Yang have all been employed in the role so far this term.
When fit, Lang has appeared to be the answer, although his season has been devastated by injury, restricted to just eight appearances overall.
Portsmouth boss: It’s an area we have looked at
Mousinho last week re-iterated his desire for between 3-6 signings next month - but remains uncertain whether that will include another right winger.
He told The News: ‘It’s an area we have looked at, but, whether we do anything in the window or not, I don’t know.
‘But we do have options there. Segs, Chappers, Minhyeok, Flo and Murph have played there as well, so quite a few (options).
‘I think if you look at Langy’s natural strengths and his natural talent, he is suited to playing anywhere across the front line, hence we have played him most often as a 10, a nine a couple of times this season, and then off the right more recently.
‘Whether he now plays there depends, we are probably still looking for the solution there. In the meantime, you have Langy’s level of performances and two goals in three games arriving at that back post, which he does really, really well. The more he can do that the better.
‘What Langy has given us is what we know he is going to give us, energy, drive, a huge amount on the press and did that when he played up front as well.
‘We’ve slotted him into the 10 at times and, ultimately, Langy pops with goals, which is really valuable for us.’
Bianchini disappointment
Florian Bianchini most recently featured on the right wing in last month’s 3-1 win over Millwall, having surprisingly been recalled to the starting XI.
He was subsequently moved to the left wing, swapping with Murphy, for the 3-0 loss at Sheffield United - and has not played since.
Mousinho recently admitted the Swansea loanee has been troubled by an ongoing tendonitis issue in a knee and, as a consequence, hasn’t been included in the Blues’ last four squads.
Another loanee, Yang, started on the right against Swansea and Blackburn, yet was taken off at half-time in the latter with Pompey losing 1-0 at the time. They subsequently won 2-1.
They represent the Spurs man’s only starts in the last nine games, having primarily been used on the left wing since his Fratton Park arrival.
As for Lang, five of his seven starts this season have come on the right wing. He has lined-up in the role for the last two matches against Derby and QPR and definitely impressed.
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