Reece James is likely to miss tomorrow’s home game with Cheltenham as Wednesday look to bounce back from the midweek defeat at Plymouth.
James went off injured at half time at Home Park following a heavy challenge in the first half and Darren Moore said today that it needs the swelling and bruising to go down in the hip and groin area before they can make any decision on the defender.
He told today’s press conference: “We are taking an extra 24 hours with him but we don’t think he will make this game.”
Mark McGuinness may well come straight back into the squad from his injury lay-off if, as expected, James has to sit out the game.
Moore said: “Mark has trained for a few days. We will look at the volume of work he has done and will have a chat with him tomorrow.”
George Byers could return to the squad tomorrow after being sidelined with a bruised foot since the Ipswich game last month, Moore saying he will be assessed in the morning to see if he is fit to make the squad.
The added-time defeat at leaders Plymouth keeps us in third place on 23 points but we are now five points adrift of the Devon club with second-placed Ipswich a point behind them.
Portsmouth sit in fourth place on 21 points but with two games in hand on us.