Injury issues forced early season end for Hume - but fans will see best next term
DANNY COWLEY is relishing Pompey fans seeing the best of Denver Hume next season.
Disappointingly, a back injury has ended the January recruit’s campaign prematurely, ruling him out of the final seven matches of 2021-22.
Even before then he had slipped out of the left-back reckoning, with Connor Ogilvie instead preferred.
That was not entirely a reflection of Hume’s early Blues form, with some good moments, particularly in February’s 2-1 win at Shrewsbury.
Still, he has been restricted to nine outings since a £200,000 switch from Sunderland.
And Cowley anticipates the 23-year-old will be injuryfree and back challenging for a spot in the build-up to next term.
Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘Denver had a little prolapsed disc in his back, which sounds a lot worse than it is.
‘It’s just a minor bit of swelling, but there’s some nerve irritation, so we have settled it down with an epidural.
‘He’ll be back for pre-season. He would have been back within a couple of weeks, but obviously the season ends after Saturday.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing him back, we know he’s a young player with lots of growth, unbelievable athleticism, speed and pace.
‘We think he can really add to the group.’
Following his arrival, Hume was handed a debut in January’s 2-1 defeat to Charlton.
He subsequently started six of the next seven matches, catching the eye at times with his attacking runs and willingness to test a full-back.
However, last month he developed back issues which initially forced him onto the bench as a non-playing substitute, before dropping out of the squad entirely.
Cowley is happy with his left-back options next season and admits it’s the only position not requiring strengthening. In addition to Hume there is Ogilvie, who finished third in The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season after a superb opening campaign at Fratton Park.
The former Gillingham spent long spells at centrehalf, although in recent weeks has operated at leftback in a conventional back four. Completing the options is Liam Vincent, who has endured an injury-wrecked campaign. He returned in February and has been an unused substitute for the first-team on six occasions since his comeback.