Portsmouth’s injury woes in recent months have been well documented, and there were fears that both Callum Lang and Jack Sparkes could be on the sidelines for an extended spell after going down against Blackpool on Saturday.
Both of those players could however feature on Tuesday night as Portsmouth welcome Burton Albion to Fratton Park. Fans will be confident given the difference between the two sides in the League One table, however we do know that there is no such thing as an easy game in the third tier.
Burton have been in fairly shocking form recently, gaining just a single point from their last four matches. As a result. they sit precariously above the relegation zone in 20th, five points ahead of the drop. To avoid playing in League Two next season, a reaction is certainly needed, however there is no guarantee that they will get that.
On the other hand, Portsmouth are playing near enough to their best at the minute and have a five point cushion at the top of the table. Unbeaten in their last ten, seven of those being wins, they’ve really shown their title credentials in recent weeks. A win against Burton on Tuesday night would indeed take them three points closer to playing in the Championship next season.
There chances of that could be potentially dealt a boost with the injury concerns relating to both Callum Lang and Jack Sparkes not as bad as first feared.
Lang has been an integral part of the attack since joining from Wigan Athletic in the January window and has four goals and an assist in his first eight games. His performances have really helped Pompey through games and he’s truly proved his worth to the club.
Jack Sparkes may well not grab the same headlines, yet the left-back has made 34 appearances this season picking up six assists during that time.
In an interview on Portsmouth’s official website, manager John Mousinho gave a positive update relating to both players’ injuries.
“Langy’s (Callum Lang) a lot better than we thought he was going to be and is probably 50-50 for this game, so we’ll see how it settles down. It’s a real departure from the other ankle injuries we’ve had this season and we’re pretty hopeful that he’ll be ready.
“Jack (Sparkes) is fine and there are no issues there. It was just a contact injury and a bit of bleeding, but he’s available.
“We’re also another step closer to Lee Evans coming into the fold, plus we’ve seen Zak Swanson back on the bench and Ben Stevenson is progressing well.”
Writer’s View
Portsmouth’s chances of a win on Tuesday night will dramatically increase if both players are available. Lang to put it frankly has been immense since joining in January and he’s exactly the player that the club needed to really push forward.
Mousinho may choose to bench him if he’s in the squad in order to not risk anything but then again if he has recovered well, then the former-Wigan man may well start. It’s a huge week for Portsmouth if they’re able to win tonight as the two teams directly behind them, Derby County and Bolton Wanderers, face off at the weekend and at least one has to drop points. Two wins this week for Pompey will set them up perfectly for the title.
Senior Editor
