'He's fine now': Portsmouth boss provides Zak Swanson contract update amid welcome boost

Yet the 23-year-old’s Pompey future is no clearer, despite the door remaining open to stay at Fratton Park.

The highly-regarded right-back has been dogged by a groin problem over the last 17 months, ruling him out of around 37 matches during that period.

Those ongoing absences influenced the decision not to take up the club option on Swanson’s contract, which would have extended his time on the south coast by 12 months.

The talented former Arsenal defender’s representatives are continuing to talk to sporting director Rich Hughes over a fresh deal.

Yet, as it stands, he will become a free agent after June 30, with plenty of League One interest anticipated - in addition to Pompey.

Mousinho told The News: ‘Zak’s contract is something which I think is still ongoing between the agent and the football club.

‘But everything is resolved on that side (with his injury), Zak is fine now.

‘It’s that ongoing problem with his groin, he has been working hard on it to make sure he is back, that should be fine.

‘When he played I thought he had a really good season, he was excellent when he came and deputised for Joe Rafferty at the start. Then we interchanged him with Joe at the back end, we had that luxury.

‘Whenever we discussed team selection, I thought for certain games we would change full-backs and Zak came in against Bansley, but unfortunately got injured.’

Swanson has made 44 appearances for Pompey since joining for an undisclosed fee from the Gunners in July 2022.

The Blues return for pre-season on June 27, involving two days of testing, before training resumes on Monday, July 1.

Certainly it will be intriguing if Swanson is involved with the newly-promoted Championship club for pre-season, despite the uncertainty of his contract situation.