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Pompey boss won't worry about what's happening elsewhere - and will focus on Fratton

Forget the noise about what Derby and Bolton may or may not be doing. That's John Mousinho's message as he warms up for Oxford's visit to Fratton Park by insisting they'll just worry about themselves.

The Blues' two closest rivals both dropped points last Saturday and again on Tursday - but it was a different game taking Mousinho's attention in midweek.

He told the club media: 'I was at Leyton Orient v Blackpool to do a bit of opposition scouting, as we’ve got the latter club next week. I checked the other results at the back end of that game, which obviously made for a nice bonus for us.

'But the focus is solely on us and there’s nothing we can do about anyone else – you can’t get too up or down about what’s happening elsewhere. We need to make sure that we get the job done ourselves, but of course it’s the stage of the season when you’re not going to ignore it.

'That’s all done and now we have to get ready for Saturday against an Oxford side who have a lot of good players. I can’t put my finger on why they haven’t done as well as during the earlier part of the season, but I know this is a tough league and it’s difficult to pick up wins.

'A lot of time has passed since I was there and we’ve played them twice in that time, so for me, it’s just business as usual. We have to try to play as well as we can to pick up all three points – it doesn’t matter who the opposition are.'

The manager gave updates on his walking wounded, including Zak Swanson, Connor Ogilvie, Conor Shaughnessy - and others. And he was speaking before news broke that Pompey have added former Wolves and Ipswich midfielder Lee Evans to the squad - he is free agent and was therefore able to sign outside the transfer window.

He told the club website: 'Zak trained with us for part of the session on Wednesday, which was a real bonus. It’s going to be a slow reintroduction for him and hopefully we can push on next week.

'Shaughs has got a couple of black eyes and a nasty cut on the nose after taking the brunt of the back of Marlon Pack’s head, but he’s absolutely fine. There was a knock to the head for Ogilvie and you have to check it’s not concussion. We need to get him independently assessed on Friday to clear him for the weekend.

'We haven’t got Tino Anjorin back in the building just yet and are waiting to get the sign off from Chelsea, but we believe he’s pretty close. Ben Stevenson is coming along as expected and has been running again outside, but is at least a couple of weeks away. There are no other new injuries and so we’re anticipating having the same squad to select from as last weekend.'

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