Murphy targeting consistency after injury-hit season

Portsmouth winger Josh Murphy is "fully expecting" to be fit and ready for the new campaign after struggling with injuries last season.

The 31-year-old made just 16 appearances in 2025-26 as Pompey battled for Championship survival.

But after resolving a groin and foot injury at the end of last season he is hoping to hit the ground running when Pompey get their new campaign under way in August.

"I had surgery on my groin that has been bothering me since about this time last year," Murphy told BBC Radio Solent.

"To get it sorted now is good, I'm pain free now and that's the main thing so now it's all about building up and getting fit.

"I fully expect to be back and ready for that West Ham game, but as long as I'm fit and firing for all of the league games then that's the aim, I only played 16 games last season and for me that's not good enough."

Portsmouth travel to fellow Championship side West Ham in the EFL Cup before starting their league season at home to QPR.

Since signing from Oxford United in the summer of 2024, Murphy has played 58 times, scoring seven goals.

In his first season, Murphy established himself as one of Portsmouth's biggest attacking threats before his injury problems.

Since promotion from League One in 2024, Pompey have fought against relegation in the Championship but survived both campaigns.

Head coach John Mousinho says the club will have an increased transfer budget this summer which he hopes can help them climb the table.

"We have high expectations as a group, we can't be the plucky underdogs anymore," Murphy added.

"We've had our two seasons now and we say that we're a good team, now we need to actually show that.

"We need to go and earn our stripes to say we're a good team and that all starts from pre-season. We're going to give it a right good go this year."