The Championship can be unforgiving when it comes to player fitness. Clubs rely on squad depth, and young talents who suffer long-term injuries often struggle to regain momentum. Managers are cautious, ensuring players return only when fully fit to avoid further setbacks. Fans, meanwhile, hope to see their promising signings fulfill the potential that first attracted them. The challenges of coming back from a major injury are not just physical; confidence and match sharpness take time to rebuild. Boxing Day fixtures provide a perfect stage for such returns, offering a competitive but manageable environment to test recovery.
Portsmouth fans witnessed exactly that this afternoon as one of their players was handed his first start of the season after months on the sidelines. Harvey Blair, a product of Liverpool’s famed academy, has had his journey riddled with injury setbacks, but his talent has always shone through. He joined Liverpool’s youth system at U12 from Manchester United and made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup win at Preston in October 2021. Unfortunately, injuries, including a long-term hamstring problem in the U18s and a meniscus tear during first-team pre-season in 2023, limited his appearances.
Blair moved to Portsmouth in August 2024 for around £300,000, signing a three-year contract. His first season was also disrupted by injury, but he managed 12 appearances and scored his first senior goal against Sheffield Wednesday in April 2025. The toughest moment came in May 2025, during the final match of the season against Hull City, when he suffered what he described as the “worst injury” of his life, a grade 4C hamstring tear nearly detaching the tendon from the bone. The rehabilitation was painstaking, involving PRP injections and months of careful recovery.
After returning to training in late September 2025 and making brief substitute appearances in October, Blair finally made his first full start of the season on December 26, 2025, against Queens Park Rangers. Manager John Mousinho and Blair are optimistic about an injury-free run. The return not only signals hope for Blair’s career but also highlights the resilience required to bounce back from serious setbacks in professional football.
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