Morrell return a ‘boost’ as Pompey aim to dent County’s play-off hopes
we look for players who are desperate to play for this football club. Anything beyond that and we’re in real trouble.’
Pompey go to Pride Park knowing their run of four successive draws this month put paid to their hopes of a top-six finish.
Those results have arrived amid a nine-game unbeaten run, however, which tells Mousinho his players are still engaged with the campaign.
When asked if he’d seen signs of players switching off, he added: ‘I genuinely haven’t sensed any of that.
‘Of course I’m disappointed we didn’t make the playoffs but, over the context of three months, look at what the players have achieved.
‘You don’t do that without players who are motivated to achieve something in the game.
‘It’s been a really good run which reignited playoff hopes which was beyond a lot of people’s expectations.
‘You don’t do that without people who aren’t motivated. If you have players going through the motions you get beat – no matter who you play.
‘That’s something that’s not happened over the past nine games, certainly.’
*Derby boss Paul Warne believes there’s a clear difference between Pompey now and when the sides last met back in November.
The Rams play host to John Mousinho’s side tomorrow, five months on from the 0-0drawinthereversefixture at Fratton Park, when Danny Cowley was Blues boss.
Speaking to the Derby website, he said: ‘They are a little bit different as they are more possession-based than they were previously.’
John Mousinho has hailed Joe Morrell ahead of his potential return against Derby tomorrow.
But the Wales international’s availability following a four-match ban is likely to be the only new addition to the Pompey set-up for the trip to Pride Park.
That’s after the Blues’ head coach admitted Zak Swanson’s groin troubles will see him miss the remaining two games of the season.
Jay Mingi and Denver Hume are also expected to sit out the trip to the play-offchasing Rams.
Morrell has arguably been Pompey’s best player since returning to the club following his World Cup involvement.
And his importance has been reflected in Mousinho’s team selections, with the midfielder starting 15 of his 21 matches in charge to date. Suspension and international commitments account for the other six matches.
Mousinho said: ‘That’s a boost for us, having Joe back.
‘We missed him over the past four games, there’s no doubt about that, since his sending off against MK.
‘What he’s provided us over this half a season has been really brilliant. He’s been excellent in all his performances and I can’t remember him putting a foot wrong to be honest.
‘So, yeah, exciting to have Joe back. It boosts the squad and we’ll see what that looks like in terms of squad selection.’
Revealing the latest situation on Swanson, Hume and Mingi, Mousinho said all three were making steady progress with their respective injuries.
Mousinho said: ‘We had Jay Mingi return to training on Thursday, after a week out, which was pleasing.
‘He keeps picking up small niggles so hopefully he can come back and have at least the next 10 days fully training with us.
‘Denver Hume, unfortunately, hasn’t managed to come back to training yet. Hopefully today we’re going to see him.
‘He got a knock on the back of his knee and there’s just a bit of swelling there. We want to make sure that settles down before we really push him on anything.
‘And the other one is Zak Swanson. He’s been out on the grass with us since Saturday and joined in with training yesterday but just a modified session.’