Southampton go into the game against Newcastle with the possibility of as many as 7 of the squad missing through injury as they take on the form side of the Premier league, find out the latest here.

Saints could have as many as 6 missing when they take on the Magpies at St Mary's on Sunday.

Tino Livramento will of course miss the game and won't play any part in the season ahead of the World Cup break and he is likely to be joined by Kyle Walker Peters, that leaves 4 other players whom Ralph Hasenhuttl is sweating on their fitness.

The first is Armel Bella-Kotchap, who has now been out since being forced off with a dislocated shoulder against West Ham just under 3 weeks ago and it looks highly unlikely that he will be risked against Newcastle, that is not a major problem with the defence only conceding 2 goals in the 3 games since.

One man whom Saints hope to have back in the squad is Romeo Lavia who has been out over two months with a hamstring injury, he got 45 minutes under his belt against Middlesbrough for the B team over the weekend, and looks set to join up with the squad for Sunday

Also playing in that game was Samuel Edozie, he came off with a slight injury after only 34 minutes, B team manager Dave Horseman suggested that it was only precautionary saying.

“I don’t think they thought it was too serious," he told the club website. "Hopefully it was just precautionary but I don’t have any further information on that."

Last up is Stuart Armstrong who apparently picked up an injury in the first half at Selhurst Park, he soldiered on in the second even hitting the post, before limping off on 86 minutes, but he is also a doubt for the next game.

Ralph Hasenhuttl had this to say.

“Stuey was at half-time struggling but he tried it in the second-half and this is good to see him trying to fight for the team,"

“In the second-half he was much better. In the duels he was not strong enough but then this was much better. With injuries, we will see what comes with this week.”

So at the moment it looks a little worrying on the injury front, however it is still early in the week so plenty of time to recover.

Photo: Action Images

A1079 added 13:05 - Nov 1 Most of those injuries were present anyway so are not new. Edozie has only just started getting into the 1st team so you cannot say his loss is instrumental. In effect the only possible really new injury is Stuart Armstrong. Still, it is useful to have the excuses lined up.
5

halftimeorange added 13:24 - Nov 1 In my opinion, losing Stuart Armstrong is like having a grand piano without the one person who can possibly tune it. A disaster beckons.
2

saint901 added 14:55 - Nov 1 If SA is unavailable I'd like to see Edozie, if fit, start.
2

underweststand added 15:54 - Nov 1 Whilst we are waiting to buy a new striker in January ..(well aren't we ?).. IMHO the hardest player to replace in our present squad will be Stuart Armstrong. He doesn't look half the man he was in earlier seasons and he didn't get regular starts last season until after New Year and now already past 30, he rarely finishes a 90 minute game, and unlike Steven Davis (who left aged 34, and still DAJF his old club in Scotland, I don't see SA keeping that pace. I've always liked SA's playing style and on his day he is equal to anyone, but he can't keep up with Prowsey's perpetual 95 minute energy levels, and seems to be struggling every game. I hope he can come good again, but at present he just isn't cutting it, and we have no obvious replacement - without yet another dip into the transfer market.

1

mancuniansaint added 22:54 - Nov 1 I've said it before and I will again. I reckon SA's loss of form began after he came back from Covid. Never been the same player since.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls