The 25-year-old loanee has made 40 Championship appearances for the Black Cats
Aji Alese’s Pompey debut involved four minutes, a booking and playing at left-back.
But John Mousinho admits it’s a ‘delicate balance’ as he attempts to ease the Sunderland loanee into first-team action following a year-long injury absence.
Aji Alese made his Pompey debut at Preston on Saturday, featuring off the bench for four minutes. Picture: Alun Roberts/ProSportsImagesplaceholder image
Aji Alese made his Pompey debut at Preston on Saturday, featuring off the bench for four minutes. Picture: Alun Roberts/ProSportsImages | Alun Roberts/ProSportsImages
The highly-regarded former England youth international hadn’t played since January 2025, when he was stretched off after breaking his leg and suffering a hand injury in a Championship fixture for the Black Cats against Stoke.
Indeed, Saturday’s cameo at Preston marked Alese’s first-team comeback after a 13-month absence, during which he has featured in several under-21 games.
But Mousinho doesn’t believe the central defender is ready to be handed Pompey starting opportunities.
‘It’s a delicate balance with Aji’
He told The News: ‘We thought Aji had a bit more physicality there on the left-hand side. Swanny was excellent throughout, but it was just to freshen things up and give a different dynamic.
‘He probably needs a couple more substitute appearances before he can start games, he’s not actually played league football for more than a year now, with a couple of under-21s matches.
‘So it’s a delicate balance with Aji to make sure he doesn’t break down again.
Deadline-day signing Gustavo Caballero made his Pompey debut at Preston as a substitute. Picture: Gary Oakley/PA Wireplaceholder image
Deadline-day signing Gustavo Caballero made his Pompey debut at Preston as a substitute. Picture: Gary Oakley/PA Wire | PA
‘I thought Connor was excellent again in the centre of defence, though. Apart from the goal, I thought we defended really well.’
Certainly the form and availability of Ogilvie and Regan Poole at centre-back is allowing the breathing space for Alese to be slowly introduced into the team.
Since joining from West Ham in July 2022, Alese has totalled 40 Championship appearances and one goal, although he missed the second half of last year's promotion season with his broken leg.
Operating on the right flank, the 24-year-old Paraguayan showed promising glimpses of attacking intent on a poor playing surface as the Blues finished strongly, albeit unable to find an equaliser.
‘Showed some really nice moments’
And Mousinho was pleased with how the South African fared in his unveiling in English football.
Read More
He added: ‘Gustavo was bright, showed some really nice moments, but it was probably a difficult one on that pitch.
‘It's not the right surface or conditions for him to come on necessarily and showcase his full talent, but I thought he did pretty well.
‘That was a good opportunity to play him, though. Doing that for 15 minutes at the back end of the game worked well. We’ve got plenty more opportunities to see more and more of him as the season goes on.’
Continue Reading