The midfielder was linked with a move to Pompey back in the summer
Many Pompey supporters believed that Panutche Camara was the last missing piece needed to mount a credible promotion challenge this season.
Some Fratton supporters were drawn to him because of his impressive performances for Plymouth and his £500,000 price tag after a highly anticipated move to Ipswich. He was also available on loan at Portman Road after a disappointing debut season with the Tractor Boys.
The Guinea-Bissau international’s name was circulating in the Pompey gossip mill during a close season that saw another Fratton Park restructuring of the playing staff, and Blues manager John Mousinho understood why. He is a great fan of the athlete himself.
Two groin problems restricted the 26-year-old to just one start and three sub appearances for Ipswich last season. And as Pompey start making preparations for their latest head-to-head with Charlton—the club Camara joined on loan back in July—Mousinho’s concerns have proved well-founded.
Indeed, the unfortunate midfielder has this week learned that he faces three months on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury he suffered 10 minutes into the Addicks’ midweek win at Wigan.
That makes him unavailable for Charlton’s trip to Fratton Park next Saturday and potentially the reverse fixture at The Valley in February. It also leaves Camara with just eight appearances for the South London outfit following a foot injury he picked up in August that kept him out for nine weeks.
Pompey, of course, have had their fair share of injuries already this season, too, with club captain and midfielder Marlon Pack currently out with an ankle injury he picked up at the Latics and one of four players currently receiving treatment from the Blues’ medical team.
He’ll also miss Charlton’s trip to the south coast next weekend. But with Pompey deliberately taking into consideration players’ past injury records as they set about their recruitment process in the summer, they appear to have made the right call on Camara.
Speaking about the player back in July, Mousinho told The News: ‘Camara was excellent for Plymouth a couple of seasons ago.
Due to injuries, he was unable to play for Ipswich last season; therefore, it will likely be very challenging for us to evaluate him given his injury history.
There is no denying that he is an extremely captivating player. It’s difficult to bring him in, though, given what he went through the previous season, even though he is a robust player—I’m not saying he isn’t.
I believe you become very enthused about the idea of bringing him in when his name is mentioned.
“It’s just offset by the fact that, given his history of injuries, it would be challenging to accomplish.”
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