Portsmouth FC manager John Mousinho has indicated that a final decision on whether defender Conor Shaughnessy will feature in the upcoming match against Coventry City will be made at the last minute.
Shaughnessy has faced recurring muscle-related issues throughout the current season, and as a result, the club has been carefully monitoring and managing his physical condition. Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s fixture, Mousinho explained that the situation remains uncertain and dependent on medical assessment.
He noted that if he had been asked about Shaughnessy’s availability the previous week, he likely would have ruled him out of recent matches against Ipswich Town and Leicester City. However, the defender successfully came through both of those games, which has given the manager some optimism that he could be fit enough to play again. Despite this, Mousinho emphasized that the final call will be guided by advice from the club’s medical staff.
The manager also highlighted that Portsmouth currently have several defensive alternatives available. Players such as Jojo Wollacott, Ryley Towler (Ibane), Connor Ogilvie, and Hayden Matthews provide depth in central defense, easing the pressure on Shaughnessy’s potential absence.
Mousinho contrasted this with a recent period following the match against Southampton FC, when the squad was severely depleted in that position and only one fully fit centre-back—Ibane—was available. Since then, the team has worked hard to restore fitness levels across the defensive line, ensuring they now have multiple options to choose from.
