It looks like Danny Ings won’t be the only key player Southampton will be without ahead of tonight’s game at St Mary’s.
As revealed by Ralph Hasenhuttl, in-form left back Ryan Bertrand has also been ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury.
That has left them with a mini crisis in that area, with back-up option Jake Vokins also a doubt.
Elsewhere, first choice centre-back Jan Bednarek is facing a late fitness test after being forced off at Aston Villa last weekend after landing awkwardly from an aerial duel – meaning we could well see a makeshift back four fielded tonight if all of the above fail to make it.
As Hasenhuttl states below, summer signing Ibrahima Diallo also has a ‘dead leg’, meaning there could be as many as FIVE senior players missing for the Saints tonight:
“Yes, we have a lot of concerns at the moment and the last game was definitely a tough one.
“It was on the edge of what is okay for me and we paid a high price.
“We have a lot of injuries at the moment and it caused me a lot of headache.
“We have five players with big issues. Bednarek has a horrible crash. Bertrand is out for the weekend. Diallo has a dead leg.
“Jake Vokins is also injured.
“The worst is Danny Ings.
It’ll still be a tough game, but like we did against Everton last weekend – who were also left depleted by injuries – we must take advantage.
HWTL.
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