Portsmouth face the prospect of starting their competitive programme without one of their key wide players after manager John Mousinho revealed Josh Murphy is likely to be around three weeks away from resuming full training.
Timeline and immediate impact
The 31-year-old, whose season to date has been limited by a lingering foot problem, will miss a number of early fixtures as a result of the delay in his recovery. Mousinho indicated the forward is not expected to return to full training until close to the end of August, which rules him out of Pompey’s match against West Ham and the opening Championship fixtures versus QPR (15 August) and Lincoln (22 August).
"We're still probably about three weeks away from seeing him back in full training, so it's a frustrating one,"
The manager added that ongoing "minor niggles" have complicated Murphy’s path back to full fitness and that there is little alternative but to wait for him to recover.
Selection and squad consequences
Murphy’s absence leaves a hole on the left flank and increases pressure on the club’s summer signings and fringe players to fill the role. In Pompey’s recent goalless pre-season draw at Darmstadt, youngsters Luke Brooke-Smith and Eoin Kenny were deployed down the left, with Mousinho admitting the pairing were not ideal but necessary given the situation.
- Josh Murphy: expected to be about three weeks from full training
- Likely matches missed: West Ham, QPR (15 August), Lincoln (22 August)
- Other left-sided options currently sidelined include Kesh Anderson and Franco Umeh; Harvey Blair is also struggling for form
| Fixture | Date | Murphy status |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | (early season fixture) | Unavailable |
| QPR | 15 August | Unavailable |
| Lincoln | 22 August | Unavailable |
There is also the possibility that Pompey’s trips to Bristol City (29 August) and the home fixture against Derby (1 September) could come too soon for Murphy, Mousinho said, depending on how his recovery progresses.
Context and wider implications
Murphy’s contribution last season was notable: despite featuring only 16 times across all competitions, he finished the campaign with seven assists, the most of any player in Mousinho’s squad. That underlines the practical loss to the team while he remains sidelined.
With other wide players also carrying issues, Mousinho has had to rely on younger recruits and new signings to cover the flank during pre-season. How the manager approaches the opening competitive matches will be watched closely by supporters, who will be keen to see whether Pompey can maintain attacking effectiveness without Murphy’s service.
For now, the club must balance caution with the need to secure early-season results, while supporters await clearer signs of Murphy’s return to full training later in August.
