Southampton’s injury problems this season have been well documented and fitness issues have really held back Ralph Hasenhuttl and his side recently.
Three more players picked up problems in Saints’ defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday too – Theo Walcott, Ibrahima Diallo and Oriol Romeu all hobbling off in the second-half.
Hasenhuttl provided updates post-match when speaking to the media and said (via Hampshire Live):“No, they are not okay. We must have a look. Theo is serious, I think. Diallo, also. Oriol, we do not know.”
To truly set out how this rotten luck has affected the club in 2020/21, we need to show how many league games have been missed by players with injuries or Covid-related issues:
Fraser Forster (GK), Harry Lewis (GK), Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Yan Valery, James Ward-Prowse, Shane Long and Dan N’Lundulu have not had injuries or Covid issues that have kept them out of a league game this season.
Interesting quotes from Ralph Hasenhuttl recently have explained how Saints do not have access to recovery tools (Cryotherapy and pools) at their Staplewood training ground at the moment due to Covid restrictions.
Given that his team play a high-intensity style of football when compared to some other teams, they would normally benefit hugely from increased recovery.
It appears that Saints will have to call on young academy players to help them through this crisis in the short-term and will benefit from the arrival of Ainsley Maitland-Niles on transfer deadline day if that deal comes off.
With games still coming thick and fast though, the club look set to have nine first-team players unavailable to face Manchester United on Tuesday.
