Portsmouth's O'Mahony out for 'four to five' weeks

Portsmouth's Mark O'Mahony is set to miss "four to five weeks" due to an injury to his oblique muscle, says boss John Mousinho.

The forward is currently on loan at the Blues from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and has made nine league appearances to date.

O'Mahony sustained the injury in Portsmouth's 2-2 draw against Swansea at the end of November and then missed out on the matchday squad against Bristol City on Saturday.

"We're looking at about 4-5 weeks with Mark." Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"He's back with Brighton at the moment so we're going to be lead by them and their medical department, he's got a strain the oblique muscle.

"It's about what he thought it would be timing wise, we think he'll be back around the middle of January, hopefully slightly sooner but around then."

It's a blow for Portsmouth to lose the 19-year-old but Mousinho is adamant that his squad is prepared enough in the striker position to not need to recruit further in January.

Striker Colby Bishop has returned to the first-team picture in impressive style, having undergone open heart surgery over the summer, but Kusini Yengi will miss between nine and 10 weeks with a knee injury.

The Blues have the additional options of Elias Sorensen and Christian Saydee.

"It doesn't make a difference to us in the market this January," Mousinho added.

"We won't be looking to strengthen the centre-forward department, we're absolutely fine there."

Portsmouth have started to hit some good form, now unbeaten in their past three games and a convincing performance and 3-0 result against Bristol City on Saturday.

That win took them off the bottom of the table with a number of games in hand on the teams around them, thanks to postponements at Blackburn Rovers and at home to Middlesbrough.

Mousinho's side next host Norwich City on Tuesday before a trip to fellow promotion side from last season Derby County on Friday.