Portsmouth v Sheffield United: early team news with six out and three doubts 

Pompey

Pompey will welcome back Mark O’Mahony for the game, with the Brighton loanee’s only appearance so far coming off the bench in the defeat against Sunderland, at the end of last month. The striker has been struggling with some bone bruising picked up on duty for Republic of Ireland under-21s.

Callum Lang is a concern, however, after being forced off with a groin issue at Burnley, though boss John Mousinho was hopeful the injury wasn’t too bad.

Regan Poole came through his first start in 10 months in fine style, producing a man-of-the-match display at Turf Moor after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up at Chesterfield in the FA Cup last November.

Fellow defender Conor Shaughnessy has been out since the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough last month with an awkward calf injury.

Mousinho said of the injury after the loss to West Brom: He’s just struggling to get over the calf injury. He’s frustrated and we’re frustrated, but it’s an injury down at the bottom of the calf, the soleus, and they can be really tricky for anyone who’s had one of those.

READ MORE: What Sheffield United boss said about key figure’s absence against Derby.

‘We’ve got to get him right and make sure he is right, because he’s such an important player for us.’

Kusini Yengi has been in the treatment room since injuring his groin in the warm-up against West Brom 10 days ago. Mousinho reported the Aussie striker was looking at a couple of weeks out when addressing the press ahead of the Burnley game last week.

New defender Ibane Bowat is out for six months, after rupturing the patella tendon in his knee taking an unopposed shot in training, days after his £500,000 arrival from Fulham was sealed.

Colby Bishop is out until the new year at least, after undergoing major heart surgery. The striker is continuing his rehab and been out jogging at Pompey’s Hilsea training base.

There will be a further injury update later this evening, after Pompey boss John Mousinho addresses the press.

Sheffield United

Key Sheffield United figure Ollie Arblaster missed his side’s win over Derby with an ankle injury.

Blades boss Chris Wilder said: ‘It was really innocuous, nobody was near him and the ball was over his head, He's backpedalled and all of a sudden he's on the floor and not in a great place at that particular moment. So we knew straightaway.

‘He's not a squealer, he's just gone down and turned his ankle over. So we've had it scanned and fingers crossed he gets through the next three or four days. He's a tough boy, and it was a big blow but I thought Sydie (Peck) coming in was fantastic as well. 

‘I'm not going to give anything out but he's a tough boy and we'll try and get him back as soon as possible. We've got to get the swelling down and let it calm down in the next two or three days.’

Captain Jack Robinson has been sidelined for five-and-a-half weeks with an unspecified issue while midfielder Tom Davies has not appeared this term as he deals with an ongoing hamstring injury.

Teen defender Sal Sachdev will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg.

He said: “Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game - and I have suffered a leg break which will rule me out of the rest of the season.

I would like to say thank you to everyone that has reached out to me and wished me well. I would like to thank Sheffield United for the way they have made sure I have had all the support me and my family needed. The medical staff at the game who treated me, and my teammates and coaches that have sent their wishes. I'll be back stronger and better - in god’s timing.’