Portsmouth v Shrewsbury preview

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Portsmouth have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of the visit of Shrewsbury.

Teenage defender Jack Whatmough will not play again this season and faces around six months on the sidelines after it was confirmed he has suffered cruciate ligament damage.

He joins fellow centre-half Paul Robinson, who sustained a fractured cheekbone earlier this month, on the sidelines.

Winger Andy Barcham is struggling with a knee knock but defender Josh Passley has extended his loan spell from Fulham until the end of the season.

Second-placed Shrewsbury arrive at Fratton Park without the suspended Rhys Sharpe.

The Derby loanee was sent off in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Oxford and will serve a one-game ban as Town aim to keep their promotion charge going.

James Wesolowski and Nathaniel Knight-Percival are both long-term absentees with knee injuries which will keep them out until next season.

Andy Mangan is fit again having recovered from a knee operation.

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Portsmouth v Shrewsbury preview

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Mustapha Dumbuya is back from international duty and will be in first-team contention for Portsmouth.

The full-back made his debut for Sierra Leone in a 0-0 draw against Tunisia in their African Cup of Nations qualifying match last Saturday.

His return will allow Lee Williamson, who deputised at right-back, to move into his preferred midfield role against the Shrews.

Josh Thompson should be fit enough to make the bench after recovering from an ankle injury, with the defender having made just one appearance so far this season.

Darel Russell has not featured in the last four matches and continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.

Pompey last met Shrewsbury in 1989, when they ran out 2-0 winners.

Terry Gornell, Sam Winnall and Darren Jones have all returned to training for Shrewsbury.

Gornell has missed the last two matches since picking up a knee injury during the first half of the 1-0 defeat at Doncaster.

Fellow striker Winnall, on loan from Wolves, has been sidelined for three games, after sustaining a minor hamstring tear in only his second appearance for the club in the goalless draw at Brentford.

Both players are set to be available to face Pompey having rejoined their team-mates in training this week, along with defender Jones who missed last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Walsall due to illness.

Left-back Joe Jacobson (ankle) and goalkeeper Joe Anyon (hamstring) were fit to take their places on the bench against the Saddlers, meaning manager Graham Turner could now boast a clean bill of health for the trip to Fratton Park.