Worrying injury record central to talks about Swanson’s PO4 future

Zak Swanson’s troubling injury record will be central to Pompey discussions over his Fratton Park future.

The former Arsenal youngster is among 14 players out of contract at the season’s end, although the

Blues retain an option.

While John Mousinho has no qualms over the ability of a right-back he regards as possessing ‘high potential’, it’s the 23-year-old’s injury history which is of concern.

Swanson has made 44 appearances during his two campaigns and is ruled out of tomorrow’s final match at Lincoln with a recurrence of his troubling groin problem.

The long-standing issue required an operation in December yet, after returning at the end of February, he felt it again in the first-half of the titlewinning clash with Barnsley.

The injury previously saw his 2022-23 season curtailed in January 2023.

Mousinho told The News: ‘I think his latest injury is connected with that groin issue, but we haven’t got to the bottom of it yet. Last week wasn’t an ideal time to really delve into it because of the fact we had the celebrations after the game.

‘Any issue is obviously of slight concern, particularly when something like that happens after an operation, as with Zak.

‘It’s frustrating because we want him on the pitch and it’s even more frustrating for him because he has been excellent when he’s played but those appearances have been too seldom.

‘Zak is certainly a player with high potential, but it’s those ones where we need to look at how we can get him properly fit and healthy.

‘He’s one of those that, particularly with the injury, we haven't had a full discussion on in terms of his contract.

‘Zak gives us a lot on and off the ball and has a huge amount of quality. He’s one of those players that, if fit, would probably have played a lot more. However, there has also been the good form of Joe Rafferty, but the two of them complement each other really, really well.’