Portsmouth midfielder Pack to have knee surgery

Marlon Pack has started 98 league games since returning to Portsmouth in 2022

Portsmouth will be without midfielder Marlon Pack for at least six weeks as he needs surgery on a knee injury.

The 34-year-old missed Saturday's season-opening 1-0 win at Oxford in the Championship after sustaining the injury in a pre-season friendly against Brighton under-21s on 30 July and boss John Mousinho has confirmed he needs an operation.

"He's going in for surgery tomorrow [Tuesday] so we're pretty positive on it - in the best case scenario he'll be back in six weeks so it's not too bad," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"We probably feared the worst at the end of last week - we're pretty pleased with that as an outcome."

Pack started his career with Portsmouth and re-joined the club from Cardiff City in 2022, playing a key role in their League One title win in 2024.

"We have to wait until he's had the surgery just to double check but we're pretty hopeful," added Mousinho.

"We knew he wasn't fit and available on Friday but he was definitely going to travel with the boys and was a big part of what we achieved on Saturday.

"I almost guarantee he'll be on the bus up to West Brom [next weekend] even though he won't be fit."

Portsmouth host Reading in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday (19:45 BST).