Last season’s League One champions Pompey held Leeds to a madcap 3-3 draw in August’s reverse fixture at Elland Road and John Mousinho’s side still have their necks well above water in their quest to avoid the drop. Pompey sit 17th and eight points clear of the dropzone, despite a raft of injuries for Mousinho’s side whose recent winning run was ended with Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Luton Town.
Portsmouth approached the contest following three-straight wins but defeat at Kenilworth Road was then followed by more bad news on the injuries front.
Leeds, meanwhile, also saw their winning run ended in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at home to West Brom who left Elland Road with a 1-1 draw. Whilst not exactly being at Portsmouth’s levels, Leeds also have injuries to contend with. Whites boss Daniel Farke and his opposite number Mousinho have now provided fresh team news updates and here we run through the injuries in full from both sides.
13. Mateo Joseph (back)
Young Whites forward Joseph rolled his ankle after coming on as a second-half substitute in Saturday's draw against West Brom and spent a while limping. Farke considered taking him off but the injury appeared to settle and the 21-year-old completed the rest of the match. Nonetheless, Farke admitted post match that there were now a few concerns about Joseph and that he would have to be assessed. Farke, though, said at Friday's pre-match press conference that more or less everyone who was available for the last game was also available for the upcoming games as it stands. Photo: Matt McNulty
14. Joe Rodon (back)
Rodon's foot seemed to go beneath him in the closing stages of Saturday's draw against West Brom but it takes a lot to stop the Wales international warrior and Farke said post-match that Rodon was just suffering from cramp. The Whites boss then said at Friday's pre-match press conference that all players involved last weekend were able to recover from a few little hits and knocks. Photo: George Wood