Portsmouth Boss Confirms Josh Murphy Out Until Stoke Clash

Portsmouth, England – Manager John Mousinho confirmed that winger Josh Murphy will not return from injury until the team hosts Stoke City on October 25. The 30-year-old has missed four consecutive matches due to an ankle injury, and Mousinho emphasized the team’s cautious approach to Murphy’s recovery.

“We are still monitoring Murphy’s situation,” Mousinho said. “We’ve been very cautious with him and will continue to be for the next week or so. I think we are most likely going to see him for the Stoke game rather than Leicester or Coventry.”

Murphy’s absence has been felt by the team, which is currently struggling for consistency with three wins, three draws, and three losses in their first nine games of the season. They will face Leicester City this Saturday, who remain one of the top teams in the Championship.

In addition to Murphy, Mousinho reported that forward Callum Lang (hamstring), goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid (hand), and defender Conor Shaughnessy (hamstring) will also miss upcoming matches. Winger Franco Umeh is expected to be sidelined for four to five weeks due to a leg injury.

Portsmouth seeks their second away win of the season against Leicester, who have only lost once and are undefeated at the King Power Stadium. Mousinho acknowledged the need for a strong performance and the importance of a solid playing style away from home.

“We’ve tried to build ourselves on being more solid and maybe a bit more pragmatic,” he stated.

Reports indicate Murphy is set to return to training this week, but the priority remains his long-term health. “At this stage, it’s about getting it right,” Mousinho added. “We expect him to train this Friday and give him a good week to get back for Stoke.”