Southampton FC is grappling with a series of injury setbacks as they prepare for their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City this weekend. Manager Russell Martin has confirmed that midfielder Will Smallbone will be sidelined for an extended period following his determined performance as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s encounter with Leicester City.
During the match against Leicester, Southampton had exhausted all five of their substitutions by the 78th minute, shortly after being reduced to ten players due to Ryan Fraser’s red card. Despite his injury, Smallbone “soldiered on,” according to Martin, but will now miss the critical fixture against Manchester City.
In a slight boost for the team, Jack Stephens is available for selection again after serving a five-match suspension. However, Fraser’s absence due to suspension, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Yukinari Sugawara’s fitness after he limped off the field against Leicester, adds to Southampton’s woes. Sugawara’s involvement against the Premier League champions remains uncertain, with Martin stating, “Yuki had to come off, so we’re having to manage him a little bit this week. Another 24 hours will depend on if he’s ready to start or not, so we’ll have to make a decision on that.”
Adding to the injury list, Martin confirmed that Ross Stewart is also out for a significant period, marking another blow to the team’s depth and resilience. He expressed his frustration, saying, “Will Smallbone is out now for a little bit of time, which is really frustrating and disappointing for us. Ross [Stewart] is also out for a period of time, which is so disappointing for him and for us.”
The press conference also touched upon the situation of veteran player Adam Lallana, who last started a match against Ipswich on September 21st. Martin explained the tactical decisions regarding Lallana’s involvement, noting, “Bournemouth is a different game, Arsenal is a different game, and then he was going to come on the pitch on Saturday and we go down to 10 men, so I don’t think that’s the game for Adam to come on.”
Martin praised Lallana’s contributions both on and off the pitch, acknowledging his experience and talent while highlighting the need to manage his playing time carefully given his age. “I think he’s a supremely talented player, he’s a really experienced player, and he will definitely help us at some point,” Martin concluded.
Southampton play Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium at 3pm on Saturday.
