Portsmouth FC: Regan Poole news will feel like a new signing: View | OneFootball

The return of a key player during pre-season will feel like a new signing for Portsmouth boss John Mousinho.

It has been confirmed that one of Portsmouth's most important players, Regan Poole, will return from injury in time to feature during pre-season.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has a busy summer ahead of him as he prepares his squad for their first season in the Championship since 2012.

Pompey thrived in League One last season, comfortably sealing a return to the second tier as champions and only losing five games in the process.

It will be an exciting time on the south coast at the beginning of next season, with Fratton Park full of optimism about what the Championship could entail for Portsmouth.

After seeing Ipswich Town achieve back-to-back promotions to the Premier League this season, and watching Sunderland achieve a Championship play-off place in their first season back in the second tier during the previous campaign, Pompey fans will be looking up.

While fans will no doubt be anticipating an influx of new acquisitions this summer to bolster Mousinho's squad, a familiar face returning from injury could be what gives their manager the greatest joy.

Regan Poole set for injury return

Portsmouth's FA Cup first-round defeat away at non-league side Chesterfield in November was their worst moment of the season, but their elimination from the competition was the least of their worries that day.

Key defender Regan Poole hobbled off the pitch just 11 minutes into the tie after suffering an ACL injury that would rule him out for the remainder of the season.

At the time, it seemed as though the loss of such an important player could potentially derail Pompey's promotion push.

Things looked even worse for Portsmouth when on-loan Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson suffered a season-ending training injury in January, but they did not let injuries affect them as they went on to win the League One title in style.

Now, Mousinho has confirmed that Poole will return from injury soon enough to play a part in Portsmouth's pre-season schedule.

The 38-year-old manager will be delighted to have the opportunity to include the defender in his plans going into the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

Poole was a shrewd signing for Portsmouth

Portsmouthsigned Poole last summer following the expiration of his contract at fellow third tier club Lincoln City.

He made 131 appearances for the Imps and was an important part of their team that reached the League One play-off final in 2021, only to lose 2-1 against Blackpool at Wembley.

He made an outstanding start at his new club this season, scoring an impressive three goals in 14 games as Pompey outlined their promotion credentials during the early months of the campaign.

Poole is only 26 years old, so once he is back on the pitch in Portsmouth colours he will have plenty of time to develop his game further in the Championship.

He has never made an appearance in the second tier, but his defensive awareness and impressive range of passing should stand him in good stead to make the step-up.

While Mousinho will be in the market for new additions to strengthen his Portsmouth squad this summer, the impending return of Poole will surely give him just as much satisfaction as any of the new signings that he brings in.