Big Southampton boost as Portsmouth dealt fresh injury headache before derby

Southampton handed fresh derby boost as Portsmouth suffer injury setback

Southampton have been handed another potential boost ahead of Sunday’s South Coast Derby, with Portsmouth facing a major doubt over one of their key attacking players.

The rivalry between the two clubs is one of the fiercest in English football, although league meetings have been relatively rare in recent years. Last season’s Championship encounters were the first league meetings between the sides since the 2011/12 campaign.

Tonda Eckert will now experience the derby at St Mary’s for the first time as Southampton boss, having watched his side play out a goalless draw with Portsmouth last season under Will Still.

The Saints head into the clash with an impressive home record to protect, and the latest news from Portsmouth could provide another reason for optimism.

Portsmouth sweating over Milovanovic

Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes has admitted there is still considerable uncertainty over whether Marko Milovanovic will recover in time to face Southampton.

The striker missed Pompey’s final two Championship games before the international break after suffering a calf problem, leaving the club hoping the extended break would give him enough time to recover.

However, Hughes’ latest comments suggest Milovanovic could remain unavailable beyond the derby, with the Portsmouth chief indicating that the Serbian may not return until after the Southampton fixture.

That would be a significant blow for Josh Mousinho, particularly given Milovanovic’s importance in attack.

The 23-year-old has already found the net twice in the Championship this season and has quickly established himself as an important option for Portsmouth.

His possible absence could leave Colby Bishop leading the line. Bishop has struggled for regular goals in the Championship in recent seasons, while he is also still waiting for his first goal in the South Coast Derby.

From a Southampton perspective, that would certainly be welcome news.

Saints have concerns of their own

Southampton cannot afford to get carried away, however, because they have their own fitness questions to answer.

Cyle Larin has been one of the standout performers in the Championship this season, scoring seven league goals in his opening seven appearances.

But the Canadian was forced to miss international duty with a back issue, meaning his availability for the derby could become a major talking point before kick-off.

Daniel Peretz is another concern after returning early from international duty with a glute problem. Should he fail to recover in time, Aaron Ramsdale could be handed the opportunity to step in between the posts.

That would leave both sides potentially missing important players when the biggest game of the season arrives.

Still, Southampton will take plenty of encouragement from Portsmouth’s latest injury setback, particularly with Milovanovic’s availability appearing increasingly uncertain.

The derby is scheduled for Sunday, October 11 at St Mary’s, with Southampton looking to make home advantage count against their fiercest local rivals.