Portsmouth's new forward Marko Milovanovic, signed for a reported £3million, will not be immediately available for selection after arriving at Fratton Park, head coach John Mousinho has confirmed.
Fitness setback ahead of Championship start
Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent that the Serbian striker has been training alone and is "a long way off being match ready and being match fit." With approximately three weeks until Pompey's Championship campaign begins, the manager indicated Milovanovic is likely to need further time in training before featuring.
"He's probably about three or four weeks away from being available - we'll see him in training and we'll maybe build him up over the next couple of weeks."
The arrival of Milovanovic is the club's latest move to bolster a forward line that already includes Colby Bishop, Thomas Waddingham and Franco Umeh. The head coach said the transfer had been pursued patiently to secure what he felt was the right signing for the side.
Pre-season picture and immediate fixtures
Portsmouth have played four pre-season friendlies so far, winning once, losing once and drawing once. The most recent outing was a 3-1 defeat to Wycombe at Adams Park in which Waddingham scored Pompey's goal.
- Pre-season: Win at Woking; defeat by Aldershot; draw with Bristol Rovers; 3-1 loss to Wycombe.
- Upcoming fixtures: Carabao Cup tie at West Ham (8 August); Championship opener at Fratton Park against QPR a week later.
- Forward options currently include Bishop, Waddingham and Umeh while Milovanovic completes his fitness work.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | £3m (reported) |
| Estimated availability | About 3–4 weeks |
| Pre-season record | 1 win, 1 draw, 2 defeats |
Mousinho stressed the club's preference for new signings to be ready immediately but accepted that Milovanovic's recent individual training regime means a build-up will be required. This matters for Pompey's selection options at the start of the season: the squad will head into the West Ham cup tie and the opening league fixtures with a forward line that may be missing one of its new recruits.
Milovanovic arrives in English football for the first time, having previously played for Partizan Belgrade, Almeria and FC Alverca on loan. The coaching staff will now manage his reintegration into team training with the aim of having him available as soon as possible.
The timing of his return will be monitored closely by supporters and the club alike as Pompey push to be competitive in the Championship from the outset.
