Ogilvie set to miss start of season after knee surgery

Portsmouth defender Connor Ogilvie will undergo surgery on his knee that could see him miss the start of the Championship season, boss John Mousinho has revealed.

Mousinho said the injury "isn't major" but the full-back is expected to be out for at least the next four to six weeks.

The 30-year-old has been a key player for Pompey since signing in 2021, making 196 appearances and scoring 13 goals.

Mousinho said Ogilvie had not joined the team for their training camp in the Republic of Ireland as he undergoes the procedure.

"Conor Ogilvie is actually under the knife today for knee surgery," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"It isn't major but should be about four to six weeks for him - we're less optimistic about the start of the season and are looking at a couple of weeks into the season.

"It is a blow, we've had a number of players that have played in that position last year because of the injuries that we had.

"But we've got the players to cover it and thankfully with Swany (Zak Swanson) signing his contract that does give us cover at left-back."

Despite Ogilvie's likely unavailability for the start of the campaign, the Blues are well covered with full-back options including Swanson, Terry Devlin and Jordan Williams.

They may also look to strengthen this area in the transfer market as they prepare their squad for the upcoming season, adding to the two new signings that have already joined in Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny.

No player wants to be left at home when there's a pre-season tour but that's the fate befalling Connor Ogilvie

Having missed part of the second half of last season he'll be desperate to be fit for the start of the new campaign. That is now touch and go.

The right-footed Zak Swanson filled in well at left-back last season but Australian Jacob Farrell is now the only recognised player in that position.

He's hardly played over the past couple of seasons largely due to injury and seems set to depart.

A new left-back was always likely to be recruited this summer, the importance of doing so may now have increased.