Portsmouth Face Major Injury Problems Ahead of Lincoln City Trip

Portsmouth head to Sincil Bank this weekend looking to bounce back from their disappointing opening-day defeat, but John Mousinho’s preparations have been disrupted by a growing injury list.

Lincoln City are also searching for their first Championship points after narrowly losing 2-1 away to Middlesbrough. Pompey, meanwhile, suffered a 3-1 defeat against QPR and will now be hoping to respond positively against the Imps.

However, Portsmouth could be missing a significant number of first-team players. Captain Marlon Pack and Harvey Blair remain doubtful, while several others are already expected to miss the fixture.

Pack’s potential return is arguably the biggest question mark. The experienced midfielder underwent knee surgery over the summer and had initially hoped to be fit for the opening match against QPR. He was ultimately unavailable, although Mousinho suggested that the Lincoln trip could provide a more realistic opportunity for his comeback.

It remains unclear whether Pack will be ready to start, make the substitutes’ bench or remain sidelined. Portsmouth’s latest pre-match update should provide a clearer indication of his condition.

Blair is another player whose availability is still uncertain. The winger picked up a hip problem during the warm-up for the friendly against Darmstadt in late July and subsequently missed matches against West Ham and QPR.

His future at Fratton Park is also yet to be settled, with Mousinho previously indicating that the club could consider allowing him to depart before the transfer window closes. Nevertheless, a return to fitness could put Blair in contention for Saturday’s game.

Several Portsmouth players already ruled out

There is less uncertainty surrounding Franco Umeh, who is expected to miss the match after sustaining a hamstring injury in a behind-closed-doors fixture against Kuwait SC shortly before the new season began.

The winger has had limited opportunities since joining Portsmouth from Crystal Palace in September 2025, making only two senior appearances for the club. His latest injury means another extended spell on the sidelines is now expected.

Thomas Waddingham is also unavailable after suffering a significant ankle injury during the pre-season meeting with West Ham. Portsmouth believe the Australian striker could be out for between six and 10 weeks, although that recovery period may become longer if surgery is required.

Waddingham had