It certainly has not been straightforward for Thomas Waddingham at Portsmouth. Waddingham waited 637 days for another competitive goal last week. After two surgeries, four different injury problems an...
It certainly has not been straightforward for Thomas Waddingham at Portsmouth.
Waddingham waited 637 days for another competitive goal last week. After two surgeries, four different injury problems and just 14 appearances in almost two years, the Australian striker finally had his moment.
The 21-year-old came off the bench to score Portsmouth’s 82nd-minute winner in a 2-1 Championship victory over Millwall, ending a frustrating 21-month wait.
He definitely is not the only Australian to have been hampered by injuries at Pompey – just look at Hayden Matthews and Jacob Farrell.
“It’s about just staying fit, I’ve had so many set-backs, but in terms of on the pitch I think I can help the team,” he told The News.
Waddingham initially made the move to the UK amid plenty of hype in Australia.
Born in Cairns, the Queenslander emerged through Brisbane Roar’s youth system and announced himself nationally during the 2023 Australia Cup, scoring four goals in four appearances.
That included a goal against Sydney FC in the final, making him the youngest scorer in an Australia Cup decider since the competition’s 2014 arrival.
He was soon establishing himself in the A-League and representing the Young Socceroos, having previously attracted interest from English clubs including Blackpool, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.
Waddingham – who has taken inspiration from former Liverpool star Luis Suarez – previously explained why he had initially resisted the opportunity to move overseas.
“I definitely thought getting more match minutes and getting an opportunity in the A-League will definitely help me in the future as a pathway to Europe,” he told aleagues.com.au.
That pathway eventually led to Portsmouth, who signed him from Brisbane in January 2025.
His Championship career began perfectly.
Introduced against West Bromwich Albion, Waddingham scored on debut. Perfect, right? However, what followed was a painful sequence of setbacks.
Hamstring and groin problems disrupted his first months at the club before a quadriceps injury sustained in training in September 2025 required surgery and sidelined him for seven months.
Then, just as he appeared ready to establish himself this season, an ankle injury suffered against West Ham in August forced him under the knife again.
Incredibly, Waddingham has managed only 14 competitive appearances for Portsmouth since arriving almost 21 months ago.
“I’ve just been unlucky,” he told The News this week. “The injuries could be coming across from the A-League, but someone like Hayden (Matthews) hasn’t had any muscle injuries, while Segs (Adrian Segecic) has been fine.
“It could be down to anything really, there have obviously also been heaps of injuries at the training ground. I just don’t know what has caused it.”
The repeated setbacks have taken their toll.
“It’s unlucky, it could have happened to anyone, a bit frustrating, and mentally it has been tough,” he said.
“I have come over here from Australia and the main goal is to play football, so I guess that’s the main goal which keeps me going.”
Throughout his struggles, Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has maintained his faith in the Aussie.
“There’s a reason we’ve stuck with him and there’s a reason why he’s got his chance today,” Mousinho said.
For Waddingham – who scored for the Young Socceroos against a Dutch side featuring now-Real Madrid and Spain star Dean Huijsen – the challenge now is straightforward: stay fit.
“I feel really fit and really good at the moment,” he said.
“We are doing heaps off the pitch, working in the gym, and as long as I keep doing my recovery, I should be fine.
“They have looked after me very well here, that’s definitely something at the forefront of their minds. They want to ease me back in, but we still have to play and win games.”
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