Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has acknowledged that Terry Devlin is not yet back to his best form as he continues his recovery from a serious injury. The 22-year-old right-back, who was named Pompey's Player of the Season for 2025-26, has started all seven of the club's opening matches this term but has struggled to match his previous high standards.
Devlin's 2025-26 campaign was cut short in April when he suffered a hamstring injury during a 1-0 home win over Leicester City at Fratton Park. The problem ruled him out for the final three matches of the season, which saw him finish with 40 appearances and five goals across all competitions.
"Maybe not quite his best but I think Terry has been a really solid performer for us and he’s getting there off the back of an injury," Mousinho said. The head coach added context to the Northern Ireland international's situation, stating, "He had a really serious injury at the back end of last year and just recovering from that has been big for him."
Portsmouth's current league position reflects a mixed start, with the side sitting 18th in the Championship on seven points from six games. Their recent form reads two wins, one draw and two defeats from the last five outings, culminating in a goalless draw at Charlton last week. The team has scored seven goals and conceded eight so far this season.
Devlin's importance was underlined last January when Wrexham made a £2 million bid for his services, an offer that Portsmouth rejected. Wrexham subsequently signed other full-backs, including Danny Imray from Crystal Palace and Issa Kabore from Manchester City.
As Portsmouth prepare for their next Championship fixture at home to Blackburn on Saturday, they continue to manage a lengthy injury list. Connor Ogilvie, Franco Umeh, Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson, Luke Brooke-Smith and Márk Kosznovszky are all currently sidelined. Fans can check the latest team news and the full squad availability ahead of the match, while the upcoming fixtures show a busy period ahead.
The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk
