Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has revealed that on-loan midfielder Miguel Azeez could be set for a spell on the sidelines with a groin strain.

Azeez joined Pompey on a season-long loan from Arsenal back in the summer transfer window, and has since made just a single appearance for the League One club.

That came when he played an hour of the 2-1 defeat to Cambridge earlier this month, and the 19-year-old was absent from Portsmouth's matchday squad for their 2-1 loss at Burton on Tuesday night.

Now it seems that is down to an injury issue that could keep the teenager out of action for some time to come yet.

Explaining Azeez's absence from the squad for that game at The Pirelli, Cowley was quoted by Hampshire Live as saying: "He’s got a groin strain unfortunately. He had a scan today, so we are awaiting those results."

It seems the full extent of the injury is yet to become clear, as when asked if he knew how long the midfielder could be out for, the Portsmouth boss simply said: "No, we are awaiting the scan results."

Following that defeat on Tuesday, Pompey are now 13th in the League One table, five points adrift of the play-off places ahead of their clash with Sunderland at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Verdict

This update on Azeez from Cowley will surely be frustrating for all involved.

Things are not exactly going well for Portsmouth at the minute, with the club now having failed to win any of their last eight games in all competitions.

The loss of Azeez therefore looks to be a significant blow, with the midfielder someone who ought to have the potential to help turn Pompey's form back in the right direction, if he was available.

Indeed, given Azeez will have come to Portsmouth with the hope of playing regular senior football, the fact he currently seems unable to do so due to injury will be disappointing from an individual perspective for the 19-year-old as well.