Luke Brooke-Smith will undergo surgery after sustaining a dislocated ankle, a fractured fibula and significant ligament damage during a Portsmouth training session, leaving the 18-year-old facing a potentially season-ending absence from the Championship.

What happened in training

The incident occurred without contact during a routine session, the kind of freak accident that offers no forewarning and no explanation. Medical staff at the training ground treated Brooke-Smith immediately before he was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital, where he was later discharged.

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho confirmed the full extent of the damage to BBC Radio Solent: "It's a really unfortunate one. He's suffered a severe ankle dislocation. Off the back of that, there is a fracture on his fibula and significant ligament damage."

The club will allow the injury to settle over the coming days before Brooke-Smith goes under the knife. "We're going to leave it to settle for a couple of days, but he will go in for surgery after that," Mousinho said.

A season barely started

Brooke-Smith arrived at Fratton Park in the summer on a permanent deal from Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand, a signing that signalled real ambition from Portsmouth's recruitment team. At 18, he carried the expectation of a player earmarked for development and, eventually, a consistent role in the first XI.

He made four appearances in the Championship this campaign, starting one and contributing from the bench in the others. Surgery and a subsequent rehabilitation programme now look set to end those early steps in the division for this season.

The player's own words

Brooke-Smith addressed supporters directly via Instagram, choosing honesty over understatement: "No words with how I'm feeling right now. A freak incident in training causing me to dislocate my ankle, break fibula and potential ligament damage."

He added: "As I don't know the severity yet I'm trying my best to stay positive in a really hard time for me. I will work my hardest to get back out on the pitch to play for this amazing club. Thank you to all the staff and players for getting around me."

That message spoke to a dressing room that rallied around him quickly, and Mousinho's public comments reflected a staff equally shaken by the abruptness of the setback.

What it means for Portsmouth

Losing Brooke-Smith for any significant stretch narrows Portsmouth's options out wide at a point in the season when squad depth matters. Mousinho has already spoken publicly about the need for the group to improve, and this injury removes one of the younger players who might have grown into a more prominent role as fixtures accumulated.

The precise timeline for his return depends on what surgery reveals, but a fractured fibula combined with ligament damage typically requires several months of rehabilitation. For a player still in his first season at Championship level, the priority will be a full recovery rather than a rushed return.

Portsmouth's supporters will hope that the care shown by club staff in the immediate aftermath translates into the same thoroughness during the weeks of recovery that lie ahead.

Frequently asked

How long will Luke Brooke-Smith be out for Portsmouth?
Brooke-Smith is facing a potentially season-ending absence after suffering a dislocated ankle, a fractured fibula and significant ligament damage in training. He will undergo surgery once the injury settles, and the full timeline will become clearer after that procedure.
What injury did Luke Brooke-Smith suffer?
He suffered a severe ankle dislocation, a fracture to his fibula and significant ligament damage during a Portsmouth training session. He was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital and later discharged before surgery is scheduled.
Who is Luke Brooke-Smith and where did he join Portsmouth from?
Luke Brooke-Smith is an 18-year-old winger who joined Portsmouth on a permanent deal in the summer from New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix. He had made four Championship appearances this season before his injury.