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Portsmouth praying for small mercies after latest cruel set-back for luckless attacker The striker has featured just 13 times for the Blues during his 19 months at Fratton Park Thomas Waddingham found his way back to Pompey’s waiting team coach unaided, although the accompanying limp in his left leg was unmistakable. Still, with no leg brace, protective boot or crutch to assist his walking in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat, it represented small mercies after the Australian’s latest injury blow. The Blues are still waiting to learn the full extent of the issue which forced him off just eight minutes into a substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup against West Ham. The kneejerk reaction on social media, particularly from those not present, involved cursing the 21-year-old’s injury record, while demanding for the remaining two years on his Pompey deal to be ripped up. Closer scrutiny of the 60th-minute incident, however, provided the lightning bolt of realisation that Waddingham had actually been a little hard done-by - in terms of the nature of the tackle as well as subsequent public criticism. On the receiving end of a crunching tackle With Ebou Adams opting to backheel the ball as he headed towards the right corner flag, Waddingham and Ollie Scarles were required to swiftly react to the sudden loose ball. It was the Hammers’ man who arrived there first by a fraction, with his crunching challenge making initial contact with the ball, yet also claiming the former Brisbane Roar striker. Waddingham attempted to continue, even taking guard inside the penalty area for a Pompey corner, yet, ultimately, collapsed with no-one around. There had been no breakdown of the body, the damage had already been caused by Scarles moments earlier. There can be no argument that the youngster’s injury record has been appalling since his January 2025 arrival, with just 13 first-team matches in that period. It’s an immensely frustrating absence prompted by a groin issue and then a hamstring problem, while a torn thigh sustained in training in September 2025 sidelined Waddingham for seven months. Not unreasonably, there are those among the Fratton faithful who will blame Saturday’s latest injury set-back on the Australian’s ongoing struggles to adapt to the physicality and demands of the English game. Similarly, compatriot Jacob Farrell knows only too well the pitfalls of swapping the A-League for the Championship, with three games in two years, while Hayden Matthews has also suffered his moments. In truth, though, Saturday represents nothing more dramatic than awful luck for Waddingham, bearing absolutely no relation to previous ailments which have grounded a promising Fratton Park career. ‘Poor challenge’ While justice was denied in the instance of Edson Alvarez, who deserved to see red for his second-half lunge on Zak Swanson, it can be debated whether Scarles warranted even a booking in respect of that Waddingham moment. Certainly Mousinho felt it was a ‘poor challenge’ as he voiced his unhappiness in the post-match press conference, a reaction clearly influenced by seeing the 21-year-old yet again suffering injury heartache. On this occasion there was no soft tissue problem, as previously suffered by the unfortunate Aussie. Rather an impact injury inflicted by an opponent during the heat of battle. Nonetheless, the outcome threatens to be exactly the same - a period of inactivity on the sidelines and Mousinho again deprived of the talented attacker. Considering Pompey’s goal-scoring problems last season which plunged them perilously close towards a League One return, they cannot afford to be without Waddingham yet again - even if this time his body should be spared of blame.