Pompey travel to Barnsley tonight, with the head coach deciding whether to reinstate the previously suspended Joe Rafferty and Joe Morrell.
Mousinho will be thinking about Christian Saydee’s likely return from injury as he attempts to extend his new-look side’s unblemished start to the season.
That’s against a backdrop of Sean Raggett and Ryley Towler waiting for recalls, Ben Stevenson pining for League One action, and Jack Sparkes hoping his outstanding start to life at Fratton Park is finally converted into regular minutes.
Competition for positions will, of course, heat up even more once Kusini Yengi, Anthony Scully, and Tom Lowery return from their separate injuries and Tino Anjorin regains fitness.
But that’s a scenario Mousinho and Blues sporting director Rich Hughes were fully aware of when they led a summer revamp. They sought to put together a team capable of competing at the top of League One.
They understood there was no way they could keep everyone happy if they tried. Mousinho is at ease with this. But it doesn’t imply he’ll support a disgruntled faction.
Competition for positions will, of course, heat up even more once Kusini Yengi, Anthony Scully, and Tom Lowery return from their separate injuries and Tino Anjorin regains fitness.
But that’s a scenario Mousinho and Blues sporting director Rich Hughes were fully aware of when they led a summer revamp. They sought to put together a team capable of competing at the top of League One.
They understood there was no way they could keep everyone happy if they tried. Mousinho is at ease with this. But it doesn’t imply he’ll support a disgruntled faction.
‘I’ve always said in pre- and post-match press that the players who haven’t been playing are a lot closer than they think, and as the season progresses, we’ll see a lot more solid evidence of that.
‘Conor Shaughnessy is constantly mentioned (in that regard), Zak Swanson is the most recent one, and Terry Devlin has now made his league debut.
‘You’re an injury, a suspension, a change of form away from being called up, and you’ve got to keep yourself ready, even if you’re unhappy with the way things are.’
Mousinho expressed satisfaction with the talent and depth of his group. So much so that he believes alterations to his starting lineup do not weaken the Blues.
‘We don’t see any risks in bringing in any player to change the team,’ he continued.
‘Of course, there will be players with specific skills and weaknesses, but we don’t believe that bringing anyone in from the team makes us any weaker.’That is due to the way we attempted to develop the squad over the summer through recruitment here.
‘It’s not always realistic, but we want 22-24 players battling for first-team positions.’