Exclusive:Portsmouth boss admits goalkeeping concerns as Blues agonise over transfer options
The Blues currently have two senior goalkeepers on their books ahead of the new season
John Mousinho admits Pompey are ‘not sure’ over the best solution for their goalkeeping concerns.
Although the head coach admits the Blues are in the market to strengthen, should they opt to bolster the problematic position.
Joe Bursik’s ongoing quad injury has forced Pompey to re-evaluate their goalkeeping options, with the Stoke man expected to return at the end of August, while Toby Steward has rejoined St Johnstone on loan.
That leaves Nico Schmid and Ben Killip as their first-team options at present - and two players short of meeting the training preference of having four on their books
Academy player Ethan Bell has been around the squad for friendlies at Woking and Aldershot this week, while Joe Prodomo brought along two stand-in keepers to help out on their Fota Island training camp.
In the meantime, the Blues continue to be linked with Daniel Bielica, a 27-year-old Polish stopper with NAC Breda.
‘We don’t want to leave ourselves too exposed’
Mousinho told The News: ‘We are not sure about the goalkeepers.
‘With Joe’s injury at the moment, he is back training, but not kicking anything at the minute and he is probably going to be out until the back end of August.
‘What we don’t want to do is leave ourselves too exposed because we only have those two first-team goalkeepers who are fit at the moment - and are obviously one injury away from going down to one.
‘So we’re really monitoring Joe’s progress and seeing where we go from there, which means we are compiling a list of what that looks like.
‘We are always trying to strengthen every department - and we’ll see how that pans out over the next couple of months.’
Missing for almost three months
Bursik damaged his quad in the fourth minute of April’s Championship fixture at Stoke, while taking a goal kick.
That was almost three months ago, with the former Club Brugge man still missing from Pompey’s Republic of Ireland training camp last week to remain at home and continue with his rehabilitation.
At the end of last season, Jordan Archer left following the culmination of his two-year contract and was joined by Academy pair Oscar Glover and Conal McDermott.
Ethan Bell and Reuben Allen are the current under-18s goalkeepers, with Bell present at the two friendlies this week to provide cover for Schmid and Killip.
Mousinho added: ‘This week we’ve had Nico and Ben each playing a half in games, while Ethan from the Academy was also there.
‘Joe is back doing some handling work, but not kicking, while we’ve had the two lads helping out in training last week.
‘We are okay at the moment, we’re just monitoring everything in the department to make sure we don’t leave ourselves light.’