The Pompey manager claimed there was no need to adjust any of the club’s current recruitment plans as a result of Connor Ogilvie’s ankle injury at Cambridge United on Tuesday night.
The defender, who was making his first Blues appearance since suffering a groin injury against Barnsley last month, is anticipated to miss 6-8 weeks.
It’s another setback for the table-toppers as they try to keep their place at the top of League One. Mousinho is already missing Marlon Pack, Tom Lowery, and Anthony Scully, and he has failed to have a clean bill of health among his squad since the season began.
Fortunately, Pompey have Jack Sparkes to step in and fill the vacuum left by Ogilvie, as he did admirably during the six games his teammate sat out before to his recall.
Many viewed Sparkes’ absence against the U’s as unfair, since the 23-year-old had impressed them since joining on a free transfer from Exeter in the summer.
Mousinho, on the other hand, is among that growing list of admirers, which, coupled with Ogilvie’s predicted spell on the sidelines, explains why he believes there is no need to look for another left-back in January.
When asked if Ogilvie’s injury would necessitate strengthening in this area, Blues head coach Steve Bruce answered, ‘No, I think by that time Connor will be back, so we’ll be good.’That’s the whole point of having two left-backs, so that if one of them gets injured, we don’t have to send in someone else.
‘We’re already well-stocked in the full-back areas, so that’s not something we’ll look to improve.’
Pompey may also rely on Denver Hume and Liam Vincent, both of whom have yet to play for the Blues this season, with the latter now on loan at non-league Worthing.
Despite this, he retains confident in Sparkes’ skills, as evidenced by his 18 appearances in all competitions this season.
‘It’s not the end of the world,’ Mousinho remarked, referring to Jack being the only available left-back.
‘Jack did it for the last 4-5 weeks after the Barnsley game was over,’ said the manager. You never know what’s going to happen with injuries, and having Denver in the building is an added plus.
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