Mousinho Backs Kamara to Come Good as Portsmouth Persist

Mousinho backs Kamara to end goal drought as Portsmouth persist with winger

John Mousinho is confident Abu Kamara will come good after his £2.5m return to Portsmouth, explaining why Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is often withdrawn while the winger completes matches. Kamara has started every game since returning from Hull City and is the only Portsmouth player to do so this season.

Headline: Mousinho has no concerns about Kamara coming good despite his goal drought.
Fee: Kamara returned to Fratton Park from Hull City for £2.5m in the summer.
Availability boost: Franco Umeh returned to the bench against Millwall; Josh Murphy is expected to be available for Burnley after double groin surgery.
Out: Keshi Anderson faces up to eight weeks with a hamstring injury; Luke Brooke-Smith is out until the new year.
Next fixture: Portsmouth travel to Burnley on Saturday.

Confirmed line-ups

No confirmed line-ups were included in the source article.

What was said

“In terms of our wingers, we have our fitness issues with the unit in general. Hopefully we can get a few come back because we’re asking Abs to go again, again and again. I think this break this week will do him the world of good. Once something drops for him that’s fine, but in the meantime he’s looking threatening and he’s a real physical presence in the box as well as doing his job defensively. I’ve got no concerns about Abs at all coming good, I love him to bits.”
— John Mousinho, Portsmouth manager

Mousinho’s unwavering support for Kamara is striking given the winger is yet to score since his return. The manager clearly values Kamara’s physicality and defensive contribution, even if the end product is missing.

“In terms of Ryan, if you go across the weeks he’s started against Southampton, he’s started against Sheffield United, started against Norwich and came off the bench the other night in a tough fixture. He’s started again against Millwall, so for a 17-year-old to start four of those five games and come off the bench for a significant part of the other is a lot. He was very close to being in a couple of times and on another day those moments go for him. (Millwall defender) Crama is excellent on that side and gives us real problems, with the fact he’s physical, quick and a very good player as well. I felt Ryan did a good job. We try to rotate with wingers, but with Abs it’s a bit different and touch wood he can stay fit in terms of that ability to go again. This is Ryan’s first taste of senior football and, in those 12 games so far he’s been excellent.”
— John Mousinho, on Ryan Kavuma-McQueen

The Portsmouth boss is acutely aware of the workload on 17-year-old Kavuma-McQueen, who has started four of the last five games. His willingness to protect the Chelsea loanee explains why the manager consistently turns to Kamara to complete matches.

The numbers

£2.5m: The fee Portsmouth paid Hull City to bring Abu Kamara back to Fratton Park in the summer.
8: Kamara has completed the full 90 minutes in eight of his appearances this season.
12: The number of senior games Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has played so far.
17: Kavuma-McQueen’s age.
8 weeks: The expected absence for Keshi Anderson with a hamstring injury.

Injury and availability

Franco Umeh: Returned to fitness and was on the bench for the win over Millwall.
Josh Murphy: Expected to be available for the trip to Burnley after double groin surgery.
Keshi Anderson: Out for up to eight weeks after suffering a fresh hamstring injury against Sheffield United last week.
Luke Brooke-Smith: Out until the new year after dislocating his ankle in training last month.

Why Mousinho is sticking with Kamara

Abu Kamara has been a near-ever-present for Portsmouth since his return from Hull City, and Mousinho’s faith is rooted in the winger’s physical attributes. At 23, Kamara offers a presence in the box and does his defensive work diligently, traits that are invaluable in a squad short on fit wingers.

With Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson and Luke Brooke-Smith all sidelined, Mousinho has little choice but to rely on Kamara. The manager’s hope is that a clear week before the trip to Burnley will revitalise the winger, who has looked threatening without finding the net.

The contrast with Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is telling. The 17-year-old Chelsea loanee has been withdrawn in all but one of his eight Portsmouth starts, often due to fatigue. Mousinho’s decision to keep Kamara on the pitch is a pragmatic one: he trusts the senior man’s stamina and defensive discipline to see out games, even if his attacking output is yet to ignite.

Talking points

Is Kamara’s physical presence enough to justify his undroppable status, or should Mousinho give another winger a chance?
Kavuma-McQueen’s development is being carefully managed, but does substituting him so often harm his confidence?
With Anderson out for two months, Portsmouth’s attacking options are threadbare—should they dip into the free-agent market?
Murphy’s return could be a game-changer, but can he stay fit after double groin surgery?

What happens next

Portsmouth travel to Burnley on Saturday, where Kamara will likely start again. Murphy’s potential return offers Mousinho a timely boost, but the pressure remains on Kamara to repay his manager’s faith with a goal. Victory at Turf Moor would ease concerns, but another blank from the winger will intensify the scrutiny.

Frequently asked questions

Will Abu Kamara start for Portsmouth against Burnley?

Kamara has started every game since returning and is expected to feature at Burnley, though Mousinho will assess his fitness after a busy run.

Why is Ryan Kavuma-McQueen substituted so often?

The 17-year-old has been withdrawn in all but one of his eight starts, with Mousinho managing his workload carefully due to his age and lack of senior experience.