Portsmouth's push for League One survival has suffered a significant setback with the news that defender Zak Swanson will miss the remainder of the season. The right-back has undergone surgery, ruling him out of the crucial final five games of the campaign.

Manager John Mousinho confirmed the blow, revealing that Swanson has already missed the last three matches. "Zak had surgery on Thursday," Mousinho stated. "The opinion was that there was always the option of potentially looking at him playing in the last six games, but the risk versus reward didn't balance out. We decided to go ahead with the surgery, and that will be Zak out for the season."

This injury comes at a critical juncture for Pompey, who are battling to secure their place in the third tier. The loss of a key defensive player tests the squad's depth and resilience as they enter the season's final stretch. The team now faces an immediate challenge, hosting promotion-chasing Ipswich Town at Fratton Park on Tuesday—a match where every player will need to step up in Swanson's absence.