news-engine

Portsmouth set to fast track Marko Milovanović into QPR Championship opener He was due to play 15 minutes at West Ham on Saturday, but the picture changed for the big Serb - and that makes things interesting ahead of the QPR Championship opener. Pompey are preparing to accelerate Marko Milovanović’s Pompey career ahead of the Championship curtain-raiser against QPR. John Mousinho has confirmed the Blues are ready to up the big-money striker signing’s involvement, as the league season begins at Fratton Park this Saturday. Mousinho on Marezi playing time: ‘He’s now got free week ahead of QPR’ This comes as the landmark signing’s playing time moves ahead of schedule, as the front man known as Marezi made his competitive bow at West Ham last weekend. The striker, signed in a deal which could cost as much as €5m, got his first playing time last week following his capture from UD Almeria two-and-a-half weeks ago. Milovanović played a scheduled 30 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Kuwait SC at the club’s Hilsea training base. Mousinho indicated the 23-year-old was ready for around 15 minutes of competitive action at London Stadium, but Milovanović ended up featuring for 38 minutes including stoppage time when he came on at the hour mark. That’s with Thomas Waddingham’s injury forcing a reshuffle, with the new boy keeping with the pace of the game on his competitive debut. Mousinho has now given an update on how things look for Milovanović, with excitement building ahead of his Fratton Park bow. With the original plan 30 minutes of action on Saturday, the big Serb could now gain a half of football - before being deemed ready to start games. Mousinho told The News: ‘We had the decision to make on what we were going to do with substitutions at that point (Waddingham’s injury at West Ham). ‘Marko played half an hour in mid-week and it was good for him to get through that, so it was positive to get through the time he did. ‘I think now it’s going to be 45 minutes off the back of that. ‘He’s now got a free week ahead of playing QPR, so I think 45 for that. Then I’d say that he’d be ready to start against Lincoln or Bristol City.’ Milovanović’s increased level of involvement is a boost, with Pompey still fairly limited in terms of their squad ahead of QPR. Eight players are currently out, with midfielder Marlon Pack seemingly the only player potentially leaving the treatment room after knee surgery. Josh Murphy (groin), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Jacob Farrell (groin), Franco Umeh (hamstring), Harvey Blair (hip), Mark Kosznovszky (knee) and Keshi Anderson (groin) are the other men sidelined. Abu Kamara’s arrival adds another body to the squad with the winger set to be joined by Chelsea’s Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. Every fit senior outfield player was involved in Saturday’s West Ham game.